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WHAT WE DO

Our core program is our Peggy Browning Fellowship Program, which supports law students who dedicate their summer to advancing the cause of workers’ rights by working for labor unions, worker centers & labor-related nonprofit organizations, and union-side law firms. At our mentor organizations, Fellows gain the practical skills required to represent workers. They are given opportunities to network with their peers as well as leaders in the field of public interest labor law. Our mentor organizations and their clients benefit from the services provided by this talented and committed group of students.

Our fellowship program continues to grow every year, welcoming new mentor organizations and providing even more students with these opportunities. When our program began, we had just 10 Fellows; in 2025, the PBF Fellowship Program had 116 Fellows. For the summer of 2026, we’ve already awarded 50 students at over 28 organizations across the country, and more offers are currently being made! These are some of the best and brightest law students around, and we encourage you to check out our Fellows Brochures to learn more about the excellent work they do.

Explore our Fellows here: Fellows Brochure - Peggy Browning Fund.

Every year, we put on the National Law Students’ Workers Rights Conference (NLSWRC) and this year’s was one of our best yet. During a particularly trying year for labor and social justice advocates, we were able to bring our students a 2-day event highlighting the most pressing issues facing the movement. Students were able to gain a greater understanding of these issues, supplement their labor law courses with in-depth workshops and plenary sessions, and network with top labor attorneys, organizers, and advocates in the field. The conference was kicked off with a plenary session discussing the circumstances and responses to the War on Federal Workers, featuring panelists representing Democracy Forward and Rise Up.

We were honored to present keynote speaker Ms. Gwynne Wilcox and to have the opportunity to hear her discuss her wrongful removal from the NLRB and the next steps for Labor after offenses like these. Our final plenary, Organizing in Response to the Attack on Immigrants, featured panelists discussing the Trump Administration’s war on immigration and how the community and union activists have responded to these actions. Students, panelists, and staff members alike left feeling the conference inspired and activated to join the fight. We were humbled to be able to bring together these current changemakers and the next generation of leaders.

A quote highlighting the impact of this conference: “Meeting like-minded students, lawyers, and leaders in the labor movement that continue to inspire me and remind me that I am on the right path!" -Aurora Garcia, PBF ‘24 at Legal Aid at Work (San Francisco, CA

WAYS TO SUPPORT

As a fully donor-funded organization, we would not be able to provide such opportunities to the next generation of workplace justice advocates without community support. The need for a diverse pool of labor lawyers, prepared and connected to established legal and organizing leaders, is clear and urgent. As we continue through these tumultuous times, we ask that you make a contribution that is significant to you so we can collectively have a hand in labor’s future. There are several ways one can support PBF:

Gifts big and small make a significant impact on our organization and programs!
To make a one-time donation to support PBF, visit here: One Time Gift

If you’d like to make a monthly, quarterly, or yearly donation and lock in your continued support, feel free to sign up to be a recurring donor here: Friends of Peggy Browning

Sponsoring our annual National Law Students Workers Rights Conference is one of the best ways to support the fellows who are inspired to dedicate themselves to the labor movement.
Conference sponsorship information can be found here: Conference Sponsorship - Peggy Browning Fund

Each year, we recognize leaders and advocates across the country with our Peggy Browning Fund awards.
To explore upcoming events and show your support of our awardees, check out our events pages here: Awards Receptions - Peggy Browning Fund

For donors who want to make the most significant impact, consider joining our Leadership circle, alongside major unions and labor-oriented firms.
To find more details about levels, benefits and how to sign up, see here: Leadership Circle Recognition Levels - Peggy Browning Fund

We are committed to investing more in communicating and connecting with our supporters and stakeholders, including you. As an organization that is 100% donor funded, we value feedback and support from those who believe in our mission. The entire movement benefits from our work, and more labor organizations can share in supporting us. Our Leadership Circle encompasses top unions and firms across the country who have bought into our programs and support us annually. We hope to see this membership increase within the next year and build upon these connections. After over 25 years and more than 1,500 fellowships, our alumni network has proven to be a powerful bloc. Many of our former Fellows are out of school, have passed the bar, are partners at law firms (some have even started their own firms), and otherwise hold powerful positions within the movement. They have the time, motivation, and resources to open the door for current and recent fellows.

In Solidarity,

The Peggy Browning Fund