Summer Public Service Fellowship Program
The School of Law again will provide summer funding for students working in qualifying positions in the public sector through the Summer Public Service Fellowship Program (“Summer Fellowship,” formerly the Summer Stipend Program). We have made some exciting changes to the program designed to ensure you hit the ground running when you arrive at your summer employer, approach your work and professional development thoughtfully throughout the summer, and process your experience and apply the lessons learned to your academic and career choices during your third year of law school and beyond. We also have increased the amount of funding available to those working a full summer. Details are available on the program website. While the name of the program is different, the goal remains the same—to help you acquire the skills and experiences to build a successful and fulfilling career.
For purposes of the Summer Fellowship, qualifying positions include law-related work within government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the judiciary. Each student who secures qualifying public sector summer employment is guaranteed to receive one Summer Fellowship (or stipend) during their academic career at the School of Law.
If you did not receive a summer stipend last summer, you will be guaranteed funding of $3000 this summer, provided you meet all of the program requirements. If you previously received a summer stipend, you may apply for a Summer Fellowship; however, funding is not guaranteed. If you are pursuing a qualifying position for summer 2016, please submit an Intent to Participate Form by Friday, February 26, 2016. Students wishing to apply for funding for a second summer will be notified on March 18, 2016, whether funding is available to consider these requests. If so, students requesting a second summer of funding will need to demonstrate in their application how a public sector internship furthers their career goals.
Summer Fellowship Application Process
The application process for Summer Fellowships is outlined on the program website. As an initial step, you must submit an Intent to Participate Form by Friday, February 26, 2016. To complete an Intent to Participate Form, please log into Symplicity. Then, select “2016 Summer Public Service Fellowship Program – Intent to Participate” from the shortcuts on the right side of your home page. Click “Respond,” and answer the questions. If all of your information is complete, select “Submit.” If you need to save your information and complete the form later, select “Save as Draft.” Your Intent to Participate Form will not be received until you select “Submit.”
Note that you do not need to secure a summer position prior to submitting your Intent to Participate Form, and completion of the Form does not require you to accept summer employment in the public sector; however, you must submit a timely Form to be eligible to receive a Summer Fellowship.
Please review the Summer Fellowship Program Description and Guidelines and Timeline carefully, as you will need to complete a series of steps in the application process in a timely manner throughout the spring.
Steinberg Environmental Law Fellowship
The Yetta and Louis Steinberg Memorial Environmental Law Fellowship will be awarded to one student working in an environmental law position in the public sector or with a non-governmental organization for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks during summer 2016. The fellowship provides $1000 in addition to the Summer Fellowship. If you would like to apply for the Steinberg Fellowship, please check the appropriate box when you submit your Summer Fellowship application. To be considered for the Steinberg award, you must submit a complete Summer Fellowship application no later than Friday, April 29, 2016.
Please contact Janet Hutchinson, Susan Manning, or your career advisor with questions.