Two 2014 Vanderbilt Law graduates, Leo Costales and Will Howell, are working as assistant public defenders through Gideon’s Promise Fellowships. Vanderbilt is one of 10 law schools nationally to join the Gideon’s Promise Law School Partnership Project, an initiative to expand job and training opportunities for students seeking careers in public service. Through the program, Vanderbilt is providing yearlong postgraduate fellowships to support Costales’ and Howell’s work as public defenders: Costales for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Howell for Shelby County, Tennessee. After the fellowship, both are expected to take permanent positions as assistant public defenders in their respective offices. They also gain access to a three-year Gideon’s Promise training program specifically aimed at developing the skills needed to provide meaningful representation to public clients under difficult circumstances.