Funding Opportunities

Yale Law School provides funding to support student research through two funds: Streicker Fund for Student Research and funds from the Oscar M. Ruebhausen Fund. Only academic research/writing projects, generally for credit and conducted under YLS faculty supervision are eligible. First time applicants are given preference. Funding for repeat applicants will depend on the applicant pool and availability of funds.

Students should contact the following people to discuss project proposals prior to submitting an application:

• Research involving international travel and/or international arbitration: Mindy Jane Roseman, Director of International Programs
• Research conducted domestically:
  • Graduate students in residence: Ryan Harrington, Associate Director of Graduate Programs
  • JD students: Office of Student Affairs

Students seeking support for domestic academic research should apply through the funding request form in OSA's Yale Connect. Graduate students applying for domestic research funding should contact Ryan Harrington for a separate application form.  JSD students who are not in residence will not be eligible for funding.

Students applying for research involving international travel should visit the website for the Streicker Fund for Student Research.

The Streicker Fund for Student Research provides support for academic projects requiring international travel. Examples include field research, in-country interviews with relevant stakeholders, and archival research. Research trips are typically conducted during extended academic recesses (e.g., summer or winter break).

The Oscar M. Ruebhausen Fund for student domestic research projects provides support for students to engage in domestic research and pursue academic inquiry and discourse. This fund is part of the larger Oscar M. Ruebhausen Fund and was secured by the Office of Graduate Programs and Office of Student Affairs.

Yale Law School has limited funds to support students who have been invited to present a paper, written as part of their Law School education, at a scholarly conference. The award can be used to subsidize registration, travel, and lodging needs to present at the conference. JD students invited to present at a conference should complete the funding request form in OSA's Yale Connect and contact the Office of Student Affairs with any questions. Graduate students should contact Ryan Harrington, Associate Director of Graduate Programs.

Yale Law School has limited funds to support students who would like to field a team to compete in interschool moot court, trial advocacy, and other competitions. The competitions in which students participate can vary from year to year and depend on student interest and available funding. Students involved in these teams must demonstrate that they are making satisfactory progress towards satisfying degree requirements at the Law School. A list of competitions our students have participated in more regularly is below. Students interested in participating in a competition should complete the funding request form in OSA's Yale Connect and contact the Office of Student Affairs with any questions.

National Trial Competition, hosted by Texas Young Lawyers Association

Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition

World Human Rights Moot Court Competition

For additional information about these funding opportunities, please contact Norma D’Apolito, Director of Public Interest in CDO, or visit CDO's Public Interest career pathway website.
 

Post-Graduate Public Interest Fellowships
Information on public interest fellowships available to Yale Law School students and alums may be found at the above link.

Summer Public Interest Fellowships
Information on support for summer public interest fellowships available to Yale Law students may be found at the above link.

Deborah L. Rhode Fund for Public Interest & Pro Bono Services
This fund reimburses costs associated with public interest mission trips and similar pro bono projects during the academic year. The Rhode Fund does not support research and it is not intended to provide funds for volunteer internships or externships during the semester. Students must be currently enrolled and in good academic standing to qualify. Some past awards have involved trips to court to watch as part of investigating a potential class action as well as trips to assist with disaster relief, help immigrants on the border seeking asylum, and interview clients in connection with environmental justice claims.

The Rhode Fund helps to subsidize expenses which are integral to participating in a public service trip or project, such as reasonable transportation and lodging costs, and which are not covered by other sources. The Fund does not provide a per diem grant or cover food. The amount of the award depends upon the amount requested, the number of other applications received, and the amount of money available in the fund at the time of the request. Please note, this is a relatively small fund and there is no guarantee funds will be available for all applications.  Past reimbursements have ranged from $200 to $800. Expenses will generally be reimbursed after receipts are submitted.

If you have any questions, please contact Norma D'Apolito.  To apply, please complete the Rhode Fund Application. Once you have been approved and following your trip, please complete the Rhode Fund Reimbursement.

Mary A. McCarthy Fellowships in Public Interest Law
Supports public interest law projects to work with public interest offices, including nonprofits and government. Preference for US organizations providing direct services, especially in mediation and the rights of immigrants, prisoners, criminal defendants, and women, but the committee will consider all generally applicable applications. The stipend is up to $666 a week for a maximum of 12 weeks ($8,000).

Travel Reimbursement for Interviews in the Public Interest
The YLS Career Development Office has created TRI PI (Travel Reimbursement for Interviews in the Public Interest) which reimburses 2L, 3L, and LLM students for travel expenses, up to $800, to attend public interest interviews.

Loan Repayment
The Career Options Assistance Program (COAP) is one of the most generous and flexible loan forgiveness programs available at any law school.

The Zelia & Oscar Ruebhausen/Debevoise & Plimpton Student Fund Committee is charged with awarding grants to students (or student organizations and journals) that have a new proposed activity/idea/initiative which represents "an incremental support for students' intellectual activity, social motivation, or creative interest" or supports "productive interaction among the students and the Yale Law School faculty." A call for proposals is done twice a year through the funding request form in OSA's Yale Connect. If you have any questions, please contact OSA.

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) may be a source of funding for events, activities, and student groups that are inclusive of all graduate and professional students. Applications are typically reviewed twice a month. Additional information on funding.

Yale University Student Grants and Fellowships Database

The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale Fellowships

International Education and Fellowship Programs

You may also want to explore the websites of different areas of study at Yale University for additional funding opportunities. One example is the Fund for Lesbian and Gay Studies (FLAGS) Research Award found on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies website.