I applied for the NAACP’s law fellows program because of the organization’s legacy in protecting the rights of people of color and in doing so the rights of all people. Law school has allowed me to more fully contextualize the history of race in the United States, and I recognized the crucial role the NAACP has played in my current opportunities. I knew working with the general counsel would help gain insight on how civil rights issues are tackled.
While my legal knowledge increased, my experience was much more expansive than I could have imagined. My time as a law fellow allowed me to reflect on national issues and legal strategies to address those national issues. This reflection completely changed how I approach legal questions, recognizing the law is not just individual cases, but the law is all about individuals. Working with the NAACP is working with something bigger than yourself. Attending the national convention allowed me to better understand how a grassroots organization works. The courts, the legislature, and the people all work together to find solutions to the problems facing our nation.
I also did not know that my time with the NAACP would leave me with lifelong friends. The other fellows constantly engaged my mind with different approaches to issues. More importantly, they constantly made me laugh. When facing large, difficult issues, laughing is essential. Along with the fellows, I learned from the brilliant minds of experienced attorneys. Those attorneys are clever, articulate, kind, and personable. They are examples to me of the type of attorney I’d like to be. I treasure the relationships I built during my summer and would not trade my experience for anything.
-Brianna Rosier
2018 NAACP Law Fellow
About: NAACP Law Fellows Program
The NAACP Law Fellow Program is designed to give students who have completed at least one year of law school the opportunity to work for the summer at NAACP Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. The NAACP Law Fellow Program is made possible through the generous support of the Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund, which has funded the program since its inception in 2003. Contact the NAACP Legal Department for more information.
