NYU funds a wide variety of competitive fellowships for its graduating JDs and LLMs to support the launch of their public interest legal careers. Fellowships are limited-term positions in public interest organizations, ranging in time from a few months to a few years. They are prestigious entry points that often lead to future employment. Find out more in our Post-Graduate Fellowship Handbook.
International & Human Rights
- Robert L. Bernstein Fellowship in International Human Rights
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The Bernstein Fellowship provides an opportunity for a graduating JD or LLM, or a recent graduate to spend one year doing human rights advocacy work at Human Rights in China in its New York or Hong Kong office.
- Arthur Helton Global Human Rights Fellowship
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Created in 2008, the Arthur Helton Global Human Rights Fellowship supports one or more graduating students who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in international human rights law, and who have designed sound proposals for work at a host organization of their choice. Applicants are invited to design projects to put their legal education to work on timely issues in countries where their efforts are most needed and where there are insufficient resources for human rights protection. The fellowship provides a modest salary for one year and covers health insurance and travel costs for graduates to work closely with their chosen host organization. Learn about our past fellows.
- International Court of Justice Judicial Fellow Programme
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NYU Law nominates at least one graduating student or recent graduate to work for 10 months as an International Court of Justice Judicial Fellow in The Hague. The Court looks in particular for candidates who have excellent results in their law studies, and who have studied, published or worked in international law. The official languages of the ICJ are English and French. Candidates must have excellent reading, writing and speaking skills in at least one of these. A working knowledge of the second official language will be an asset. Clerks work with international judges, conduct legal research, draft memoranda, and listen to oral arguments on issues in public international law. Applications are generally due in January.
- International Finance and Development Fellowships (LLM only)
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International Finance and Development Fellowships are awarded to full-time LLM students on a competitive basis. They provide outstanding opportunities to gain experience working with international organizations in the areas of finance and development.
- Masiyiwa-Bernstein Fellowship (JD only)
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The Masiyiwa-Bernstein Fellowship provides two graduating JD students with the opportunity to spend one year working with an innovative human rights organization. Applications generally open in the fall.
Government
- New York State Excelsior Service Fellowship
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New York State Excelsior Service Fellowship is designed to attract the “best and the brightest,” who are called to a career in public service. Being an Excelsior Fellow is an honor, privilege, and full-time commitment. Fellows serve in a variety of capacities within such agencies like the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Labor, Housing and Community Renewal, the Department of Financial Services, and the Empire State Development Corporation. Alternatively, fellows may be assigned to roles in the Governor’s or Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The fellowship is a two-year program that combines both experiential and professional development opportunities designed to nurture and cultivate the next generation of leaders in New York State government.
Criminal Justice
- Gideon’s Promise Law School Partnership Fellowship (JD only)
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Gideon’s Promise Law School Partnership Fellowship is a three-year fellowship that provides recent law school graduates committed to a career in public defense with continuing legal education training and guaranteed permanent employment in a partner public defender office upon program completion. NYU Law nominates one fellow to apply each year. Applications are generally due in August.
Civil Rights
- George A. Katz Fellowship at the Brennan Center for Justice
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In honor of a great lawyer dedicated to building the next generation of public interest lawyers, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz created the George A. Katz ’54 Fellowship Program at the Law School’s Brennan Center for Justice. Every other year, a selection committee awards a recent graduate a two-year fellowship to work with the Brennan Center on litigation, public education, research, and scholarship. The Katz Fellowship is open to graduating students and alumni, and applications are accepted during the fall on even-numbered years. Posting for the application will be found at the Brennan Center.
Reproductive Justice & Women's Rights
- NYU Reproductive Justice and Women's Rights Fellowship (JD only)
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The NYU Reproductive Justice and Women's Rights Fellowship provides one-year of funding to one graduating JD to work at an organization of their choice, in the United States or abroad, focusing on reproductive justice or women's rights work. Applications are generally due in early March.
Children's & Educational Rights
- The Warren Sinsheimer Children’s Rights Fellowship
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The Warren Sinsheimer Children’s Rights Fellowship provides an opportunity for a recent NYU Law graduate to serve as an attorney with The Warren Sinsheimer Children’s Rights Program, a unit within Mobilization for Justice. The fellow will represent New York City children from low-income families with special education needs. This is a one-year fellowship. Applications are generally due by the end of November. Learn more about the Sinsheimer Fellowship.
General Public Interest Law
- Kirkland & Ellis New York City Public Service Fellowship (JD only)
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The Kirkland & Ellis New York City Public Service Fellowship is awarded annually to one NYU Law graduate to execute a public service fellowship project for one year in New York City. The project must be one that addresses a serious human need, and must principally and directly benefit New York City resident. Fellows are selected for their personal integrity and potential to make a positive contribution to the community. Applications for the 2023-24 fellowship are due on February 3, 2022.
- NYU Public Interest Law Center Fellowship (JD only)
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Open to graduating JDs, the NYU PILC Fellowship requires the candidate to partner with a public interest host organization and to propose a project that they will execute that will address and critical legal need. The fellowship is for one year and begins in September. Applications are generally due in early March.
- LLM Public Interest Fellowship (LLM only)
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Current NYU Law LLM students are invited to apply for the LLM Public Interest Fellowship. Four fellows will be selected to do 12 weeks of work at a host organization. Each Fellow will be provided with a stipend of $7000. Applications are generally due in March.