He received the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL) Equal Justice Fellowship; a national two-year fellowship that allows recent law graduates to create their dream public interest project to help the less fortunate. The fellowship allowed him to create the Community Development Justice Project (CDJP), which allowed him to practice community economic development (CED) law in Lowell, to help build affordable housing, start new businesses, and create non-profits to address local problems. Eldridge left his fellowship early to devote his full energies to running for the 37th Middlesex District open seat.