The Anthony Lester Fellowships

The Anthony Lester Fellowships support lawyers or law students undertaking practical fieldwork in human rights/ the rule of law.

The fellowships honour the memory and legacy of Anthony Lester QC (Lord Lester of Herne Hill), one of Britain’s most distinguished human rights lawyers. As a young lawyer, he twice visited the American South during the civil rights movement and wrote a report on race relations. His experiences there inspired his pioneering work as a barrister and legislator.

The Anthony Lester Fellowships are intended to support lawyers and law students early in their careers to undertake a project of their choosing that helps affect positive, practical change in relation to the rule of law and human rights, inspired by his experience. The fellowships are designed to support those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to undertake practical fieldwork overseas, for a minimum period of 3 months. The fellowships are administered by the Human Rights Project at Bard College, and supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the Open Society Foundation, and the Lester family.

Application Instructions

The fellowships are open to lawyers or law students early in their careers. Applicants will need to submit a brief proposal (1250 words max) for their chosen project, a CV, and 2 references by February 13, 2026. Applicants will be informed of the results of the selection process by the end of March 2026. All interested applicants can apply at the following link:https://apply.interfolio.com/178206

Please contact lesterfellowships@bard.edu with any application questions.

Terms of the Fellowship

Two fellowships will be awarded for activities beginning no sooner than July 1, 2026. Fellows will be awarded a stipend of US $25,000 to cover their costs during the fellowship. It is expected that the project will comprise full time work for the fellows for a minimum of three months. At the end of the fellowship, fellows will be invited to give a presentation at Bard’s campus in New York’s Hudson Valley (their travel and accommodation costs will be paid). Fellows will write a short report on their project, to be published on the programme’s website. Fellows may wish to publish their report elsewhere (crediting their support from the Anthony Lester Fellowships at Bard College). They will also have the chance to discuss their work with those who worked with Anthony Lester at the Odysseus Trust, which supported his legislative work.

About Anthony Lester

Anthony Lester (1936-2020) was an eminent human rights barrister and legislator. He argued leading cases in British, European and Commonwealth courts and developed the burgeoning field of public law. He campaigned for thirty years for the Human Rights Act 1998. As special adviser to Roy Jenkins, he helped devise the Sex Discrimination and Race Relations Acts. His activities in the Lords led to legislation on civil partnership, forced marriage, equality and defamation reform. He worked with human rights NGOs at home and overseas and founded the human rights charity Interights. The ideas that motivated him are recorded in his book Five Ideas to Fight For (2016).

This is a Fellowship and not benefits eligible.