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Columbia Law School Postgraduate J.D. Public Interest and Government Fellowship 2021
Columbia Law School is pleased to offer Public Interest and Government Fellowships for J.D. graduates of ABA-accredited law schools interested in beginning their careers in public interest law, including human rights, or in government service.[1] The fellowships serve two important purposes. First, they allow graduates to gain the experience, skills, and professional networks they need to obtain permanent paid positions in their fields. Second, they enable public interest organizations and government agencies confronting great demand and diminished resources to benefit from the services of talented lawyers.
To be considered for a fellowship, applicants must first obtain a written commitment by a “qualified host” to provide meaningful legal work and supervision. A qualified host is a public interest organization or government agency (federal, state, local, multinational, or international) that commits, contingent upon the applicant’s receipt of a fellowship, to:
- Provide the applicant with a position for a one-year period that will require the use of his or her legal education
- Provide appropriate training and supervision during the fellowship period
- Consider the fellow for an appropriate permanent full-time paid position if applicable funding becomes available
Law School centers or faculty members (either at Columbia Law School or other law schools) do not qualify as hosts.
[1] The fellowship is open to applicants receiving their J.D. from any ABA-accredited law school in the U.S. as part of that school’s class of 2021; Columbia Law School does not need to be the granting institution.
Columbia Law School is pleased to offer Public Interest and Government Fellowships for J.D. graduates of ABA-accredited law schools interested in beginning their careers in public interest law, including human rights, or in government…
Details at a glance
- Full Time Schedule
- J.D. Required
Location
How to Apply
Fellows are not considered employees of Columbia Law School or Columbia University. The Law School cannot pay for health insurance or other benefits. In some cases, fellows are able to arrange to receive benefits through their hosts.
Below contains information about eligibility requirements and application and selection procedures, including deadlines. Please read carefully.
ELIGIBILITY
In addition to the aforementioned, the fellowships are available to class of 2020 members who:
- Have or will have completed the requirements for their J.D. degree (and all joint degrees, if any) by May 30, 2021
- Are unemployed and do not have a fellowship, stipend, or other source of funding to work in 2021-2022
- Intend to take the February 2021 or July 2021 bar examination
Priority for the fellowship will be given to applicants who:
- Demonstrate a substantial commitment to pursuing a career in public interest law or government service
- Demonstrate preparation for a career in public interest law or government service
- Will endeavor to obtain employment in the public interest or government sector before or immediately following the fellowship’s conclusion
Please note that the following are NOT eligible for the fellowship:
- Applicants who are completing a law degree other than a J.D., such as an LL.M., as part of the class of 2021 but will not complete a J.D. as part of the class of 2021; applicants who are completing a joint degree as part of the class of 2021 are eligible as long as one of those degrees is a J.D.
- Applicants who have completed a J.D. as part of a class earlier than the class of 2021
FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS
- Meet with a career adviser at your law school. We recommend that all applicants consult with a career adviser at their school. Columbia Law School students should meet with a Social Justice Initiatives adviser; visit Symplicity to make an appointment.
- Apply to hosts. Apply directly to nonprofit organizations or government agencies of interest with a resume, cover letter, and additional materials as appropriate.
- Submit a fellowship application by March 26, 2021. For application instructions, see the Application Cover Sheet.
- Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by the end of April 2021.
FELLOWSHIP CONTACT
Please direct questions to:
Rebecca Hinde
Coordinator for Communications and Postgraduate Fellowships
Social Justice Initiatives at Columbia Law School
rebecca.hinde@law.columbia.edu
Mailing Address: 435 West 116th Street, Box B-26, New York, NY 10027
Fellows are not considered employees of Columbia Law School or Columbia University. The Law School cannot pay for health insurance or other benefits. In some cases, fellows are…