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Public Interest Law

Public Interest Summer Fellowships

The Public Interest Fellowship Committee is pleased to announce the availability of Public Interest Summer Fellowships for students working as volunteers or for marginal pay in the public sector. Students enrolled in the Public Service Extern Program are not eligible to apply for this fellowship award.  For the purposes of this fellowship, a public interest position includes working for a non-profit organization providing services to underrepresented clients, groups or interests (e.g. individuals without the financial means to hire an attorney, the elderly, minority groups, etc.) or working for a government entity.

Application & Selection Criteria:

  1. Before applying, you must have secured a position as a volunteer or for marginal pay in a public interest position.
     
  2. You must commit to work a minimum of 20 hours a week for 10 weeks over the summer in the public interest position.
     
  3. Criteria that will be considered during the selection process include factors relevant to the student’s commitment to a public service career and the nature of the position (e.g. whether the position includes working on representation of underrepresented populations).  Commitment may be demonstrated by a number of factors, including:
    • Participation in public interest/volunteer activities in college, law school, and outside of school. 
    • Short essay describing student’s interest in public service and the relationship of the summer employment plans to their career goals.

Demonstrated commitment is a principal criterion for being awarded a fellowship.  However, consideration will also be given to applicants who may not have amassed a substantial public interest record, but who have demonstrated their commitment in other ways and/or have explained the circumstances that may have deterred them from participation in such activities in the past in their essay.

Application Process

Interested students must submit one copy of: 1) a resume, 2) the fellowship application, and 3) an unofficial law school transcript in hard copy to the Office of Professional Development by 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 28, 2013. No applications will be accepted after this date and time. In addition, hand-written applications will NOT be considered. If you need to attach additional typed sheets to your application, please do so.

Questions about Public Interest Summer Fellowships should be directed to Kelly Tomlinson in the Office of Professional Development.

Students who are awarded a Fellowship will be expected to attend the Public Service Recognition Program on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.

Fellowships Available

Each year, several public interest summer fellowships are made available to students. The award amounts vary depending on the funding available.  In the past, awards have generally ranged from $500 - $2,500.
 


Alternative Dispute Resolution Fellowships

In addition to the fellowships listed above, there are two area-specific summer fellowships we anticipate awarding this year.

Interested students must submit one copy of: 1) a resume, 2) the fellowship application, and 3) an unofficial law school transcript in hard copy to the Legal Clinic by 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 28, 2013. No applications will be accepted after this date and time. In addition, hand-written applications will NOT be considered.

Questions about Alternative Dispute Resolution Fellowships should be directed to Professor Maara Fink in the Legal Clinic.

Students who are awarded a Fellowship will be expected to attend the Public Service Recognition Program on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.

JOEL A. AND SHIRLEY A. LEVINE PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIP IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION:

This fund was established to provide students with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the field of alternative dispute resolution.  Students must have a demonstrated commitment or interest in alternative dispute resolution and a strong academic record with a minimum 3.0 GPA.  Students may be full-time or part-time.  Recipients must work in a supervised position in areas such as:

  1. A Court-Annexed Program
  2. The Supreme Court of Ohio, Dispute Resolution Section
  3. Law School Center for Dispute Resolution
  4. Other with Faculty Approval


LEVISON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AWARD:

This fund was established to provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the field of alternative dispute resolution. Students must be outstanding and have a demonstrated commitment or interest to the field of alternative dispute resolution.