You are about to make a significant investment of your time, talent, and professional reputation in a fellowship, so it is important for you to make an informed decision. Before you begin your search, consider taking a few minutes to complete this Fellowship Planning Guide. This guide will make it easier to find a fellowship or design a project that is a good match for you by allowing you to consider who you want to represent, where you want to work on a project, what kind of work you want to do, why this project interests you, and how you will make an effective contribution through the fellowship.
Fellowship funders and sponsors are similar to other employers. They are looking for a fellow who closely connects with the goals, needs, and personality of their organization. Do your best to show that your personal goals fit with the purpose of the fellowship funder and, if it is a project-based fellowship, with the mission of the sponsoring organization.
Public Interest Fellowship Application Timeline
The fellowship cycle begins in spring of 2L year and goes through spring of 3L year for fellowships starting in the fall after graduation. The earliest fellowship application deadline of the cycle is usually at the end of May followed by one or two other external fellowships over the summer. The two major national project-based fellowships, Skadden and EJW, have deadlines in early September as do many government honors/fellowship programs. If you are planning on applying to these fellowships, you should reach out to potential host organizations that can “sponsor” you for your fellowship with the goal of finalizing a host organization no later than the end of July. A steady stream of organizational fellowships and a few other national project-based programs continue to be announced throughout the year. YLS fellowships generally open in January with a deadline in early February.
It is possible to apply for clerkships in early June of your second year and for fellowships at the start of your 3L year. But, if you consider applying for a clerkship that begins a year after graduation, you will have a “gap year”. That means that you will not be able to apply for any two-year fellowships, such as Skadden, EJW, Soros, and several organizational fellowships. Instead, you should focus on one-year external fellowships and YLS fellowships.
The Research Process and Online Resources
It is important to give yourself enough time to line up all the elements necessary for your fellowship applications, as some of the earliest fellowship deadlines fall soon after classes start in September.
Use your second year, particularly spring and summer, to learn about nonprofit organizations and fellowships in areas that interest you and to line up recommenders. If you are applying for national project-based fellowships, like Skadden and Equal Justice Works, your 2L summer is the time to develop your project in conjunction with a sponsoring organization.
As you investigate 2L summer opportunities, take particular note of organizations that offer fellowships or are willing to sponsor fellowship candidates. Consider establishing a relationship with one of those organizations by spending all or part of your summer interning there. If you are interested in organizations where you have not worked, get in touch with them. Be aware that some larger organizations, which regularly sponsor candidates for the national project-based fellowships, solicit resumes and interview potential candidates during the summer, often establishing deadlines to apply for sponsorship early in the summer.
A great first step is to talk with people who are familiar with fellowship programs, both project-based fellowships and organization-based fellowships. These resources can include current and former fellows, faculty members, alumni working in the area of law or at organizations that interest you, and YLS fellowship administrators. Consider making an appointment with CDO’s Public Interest Director Norma D’Apolito to discuss your path to securing a fellowship and a host organization. Below are several resources to help you in your search; you should regularly check these sites for newly announced fellowships.
CDO’s Career Management System (CMS)
CDO’s Public Interest Newsletters (PIN) – a weekly email sent to all students that shares information about public interest internships, fellowships, events and permanent career opportunities.
The Courtyard – we encourage you to join The Courtyard to connect with alumni and former fellows that have worked or are currently working at the host organizations that interest you.
The Public Service Jobs Directory (PSJD)
PSJD provides a comprehensive clearinghouse of public interest organizations and opportunities for lawyers and law students. YLS students can perform customized searches for organizations in which they have an interest and for public interest opportunities, ranging from short-term volunteer and paid internships to post-graduate jobs, fellowships, and pro bono opportunities. There is a comprehensive description of how to search for fellowships using PSJD here.
Once you have a list of potential organizations, try to identify which organizations are the best match for you.
Assessing Potential Host Organizations
As you talk with people and conduct your research, be sure to elicit information that answers these questions:
- How well do the organization’s values and goals match your own?
- How closely does your project fit with the organization’s mission and current activities?
- Does the organization have a specific idea for a project already?
- Are you likely to receive adequate supervision to do the work you are proposing?
- How familiar is the organization with the project-based fellowship application process?
- Is a staff member available to work with you on the application?
- Has the organization successfully hosted other fellows before?
- How enthusiastic is the organization about you and your project?
- Does your fellowship host organization certify compliance with Yale Law School's Non-Discrimination Policy? For instructions on confirming organization compliance, click here.
- Does the organization plan to sponsor a number of candidates, and if so, where do you rank?1
1. Project-based funders, including YLS, are usually reluctant to support more than one fellow at an organization or at the same department of an organization, and it can weaken your candidacy to have another person applying for the same fellowship with the same sponsoring organization.
Loan Forgiveness
YLS Fellows whose host-organizations are not able to put fellows on their payroll are not considered employees of Yale University nor Yale Law School. In this situation, the stipend will be paid directly to the fellow and a 1099-MISC will be issued to the fellow. Fellows receiving a 1099-MISC do not count as employed by Yale or by the host organization and, therefore, may be considered ineligible for loan forgiveness for the fellowship year. We suggest that you consult with the loan forgiveness office to determine your eligibility.