Fellowship Applications

Fellowship recipients are required to sign a contract verifying:

1.     Commitment to the public interest employer for a minimum of 8 weeks at 35 hours/week, or 280 hours total (alternate schedules may be accommodated if the hours are met).

• This requirement may be negotiated for students working part-time and only receiving pro-rated/partial stipend.

2.   Commitment to fulfilling the requisite number of hours of service to BPILP and/or the cooperative organization that is co-sponsoring the fellowship.

3.   Commitment to provide either a blog, vlog and/or Podcast episode during your summer position, as well as a thank-you letter to your donor if requested/appropriate.  (Details provided at the beginning of the summer)

4.    Commitment to turn in a verification of hours worked halfway through and at the completion of the internship from the fellow’s employer via DocuSign.

• The final verification is due by August 31, 2024.

5.    Commitment to turn in a summary of the fellowship work by August 31, 2024.

• Additional requirements may apply, depending on the Fellowship awarded.

6.   Forfeiture: Failure to fulfill the volunteer time commitment and other requirements mentioned above will result in a partial or full forfeiture of the fellowship and a check stop on your HUB account.  Students who fail to return to the University at Buffalo School of Law or affiliated dual degree program will be required to repay up to but not exceeding 1/3 of the total amount of the fellowship  received.

1.    Applicants must be 1L or 2Ls at the University at Buffalo School of Law.

2.    Applicants may work for a legal organization or social agency performing direct legal work in the public interest such as Legal Services offices, Public Defenders or District Attorney’s offices, or any other agency that employs practicing attorneys.

3.    Applicants may work on legal issues at a non-profit agency or organization that directly performs public interest endeavors but does not necessarily practice law. Examples may include homeless shelters, health centers, veterans support services, or similar organizations.

4.    Applicants may work for a government agency so long as its goals and the applicant’s project are consistent with working in the public interest.

5.    The Fellowships Administration Team will consider funding proposals for other organizations, other than those outlined in numbers 2, 3, and 4 above, which address broad public policy concerns, such as, but not limited to, public health, poverty, civil rights, criminal prosecution and defense, consumer issues, labor, environment, and immigration.

• Examples include organizations such as the Sierra Club, NOW, NAACP, Public Citizen, individual labor unions, or public interest law firms.

6.    The Fellowships Administration Team will also consider funding internships with judges if the student can articulate why his/her particular judicial internship serves a public interest.

7.    Proposals for employment in a political/government campaign or for a political party will not be considered.

8.    Applicants may participate in lobbying efforts in the form of legislative advocacy for populations or concerns detailed in number 5 above.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but no later than April 30, 2024.

Your completed application must consist of the following:

1.    Completed Application.

2.    Supplemental documents including:

Resume (PDF Preferred)

Statement of Interest (PDF Preferred) –This statement should be no more than five (5) pages, double-spaced. Your personal statement should describe in detail your commitment to public interest law. Your statement should answer the following questions and address the following issues:

• What do you hope to gain from your fellowship experience? Why do you believe it is important to serve the particular population or community that your work addresses? How do you intend to continue public interest work after your fellowship has ended? Describe, using specific examples, your past commitment to public interest work.
• Please also include the following in this statement:

o   Statement of BPILP Involvement - This statement should be approximately one paragraph in length and should describe if you are/were involved with BPILP this year.

o   Statement of Proposed Internship - This statement should be approximately one to two paragraphs in length and include the following: contact name, organization name, address, and contact information of the sponsoring organization as well as a detailed description of your project or work.

Unofficial Transcript with grades posted through Bridge 2024 (Available via HUB)

Letter or Email Confirming Summer Position – Optional at time of application, but will be required before confirming award. (PDF Preferred)