Become a Fellow

Reprieve Fellows are outstanding individuals with a proven commitment to the Reprieve mission, working on the frontline, defending individuals facing the death penalty and re-uniting those held in secret prisons with the rule of law.

Reprieve regards the Fellowships as seed money to start projects or careers in capital defence and human rights. Fellowship activities may include conducting litigation or research, undertaking investigation or mitigation work, setting up local organisations, and a range of other activities which assist in representing impoverished defendants. Fellows receive financial support, as well as practical and material assistance and training, from Reprieve in building up local organisations and in undertaking this work.

Reprieve currently has international Fellows in Pakistan and the USA.

See below for profiles of current Reprieve Fellows:

Shahzad Akbar, Legal Fellow, Pakistan

Sarah Belal, Legal Fellow, Pakistan

Richard Bourke, Senior Fellow, USA

Louise de Brisson, Research Fellow, EC Project (USA)

Kate Higham, Research Fellow, EC Project (USA)

Kate Jones, Research Fellow, EC Project (USA)

Lucy Larkins, Senior Research Fellow, EC Project (USA)

Rebecca Liley, Research Fellow, EC Project (USA)

Advertised Fellowships for working with Reprieve

Fellowship positions will be advertised on this site as opportunities arise, along with details of the application procedure. Please continue to check this page for information.

Proposing a Fellowship for working with Reprieve

Reprieve also considers proposals for Fellowships where a candidate will work with Reprieve as host organisation on an invitation-only basis. 

To submit an Expression of Interest, applicants must have:

• at least one year of full time frontline experience in death penalty or secret prisons related investigation or litigation, or equivalent experience; and 
• a well developed set of goals for a one or two year project which aims to further Reprieve’s objectives around the world

An Expression of Interest will be reviewed by Reprieve staff and a decision made as to whether Reprieve will invite a full proposal. An invitation to submit a full proposal does not commit Reprieve to offering a Fellowship. Expressions of Interest should not exceed two pages, should not contain any attachments, and should be submitted to info@reprieve.org.uk with the words “Fellowships – Expression of Interest” in the subject field.

Reprieve also welcomes Expressions of Interest from candidates for externally funded Fellowship programmes, wishing to work with Reprieve as a host organization, such as those offered by law schools or foundation funders.

Reprieve Fellowship candidates can be from anywhere in the world, provided that they are able to secure permission to work in the relevant jurisdiction.

From 2010, Reprieve’s open competition for Fellows who wish to work with external host organizations has been discontinued. 

You can read about former Reprieve Fellows here.