Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has announced the induction of 20 bright-eyed graduates into the esteemed Charles F.C. Ruff Fellowship. The program, which began in 2012, prides itself as a springboard for future legal careers by offering hands-on experience as Assistant Attorneys General for the District of Columbia. According to an announcement made by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the opportunity comes as a combined effort with financial backing from both the OAG and the graduates' law schools.
In a show of enthusiasm, Attorney General Schwalb remarked, "I’m excited to welcome an exceptional new class of Ruff Fellows—and we are grateful that they are choosing to begin their legal careers working for the residents of the District of Columbia," as stated in the same announcement. He expressed optimism about the fresh perspectives the fellows would bring to their roles. The selection process is recognized for its intensity, with the chosen few representing an array of reputable institutions, including Howard University School of Law and Georgetown University Law Center.
The fellowship is structured as a year-long program, with previous Ruff Fellows often finding their way into permanent positions within OAG or other public entities. It is a legacy named after Charles F.C. Ruff, who not only served as the District's Corporation Counsel but also found his calling within the White House as Counsel to President Bill Clinton, that stands testament to the nurturing of legal prowess.
The Ruff Fellows of 2025 span a diversity of legal expertise, joining varying divisions such as Public Safety, Civil Litigation, and Commercial, among others. The list of fellows, sourced from a wide range of prominent law schools like the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, is publicly available on the OAG website. Mariel Adams and Wisdom Ejinaka are two such talents now serving in the Public Safety Division, with Oscar Rodas-Falla joining the ranks of the Public Advocacy Division.
The OAG anticipates that the 2025 class of fellows will continue the tradition of making impactful strides in public service, ultimately benefiting the residents of the District and the fellows' own burgeoning legal careers. With the array of skills and commitment brought to the table, the District looks forward to the many contributions and successes this new class of Ruff Fellows will deliver.
