NYU-Dedicated Public Interest Student Fellowships
NYU offers a number of special summer and term-time opportunities exclusively to NYU Law students.
Note: NYU-dedicated summer fellowship applicants must be eligible and complete all program requirements for PILC Summer Funding.
Students can search for external summer and term-time funding through PILC's Student Fellowships Directory.
Summer Fellowships
- Liberty Aldrich Fellowship at Family Legal Care
Applications are generally due in late January.
The Liberty Aldrich Summer Fellowship Program enables one NYU J.D. student to spend their summer working with Family Legal Care, whose mission is to increase access to justice in New York State Family Court by combining legal guidance, easy-to-access technology, and compassionate support to help unrepresented parents and caregivers self-advocate on critical family law issues, while working on reform that improves the system for everyone.
This fellowship was established in honor of Liberty Aldrich, an NYU Law alumna and the Executive Director of the Children's Law Center. Liberty has also served as a family defense attorney and a Bronx Family Court judge.
In 1995, after observing first-hand the lack of information available to family court litigants and the dire consequences of this void, Judge Aldrich co-founded Family Legal Care, formerly known as LIFT–Legal Information for Families Today. An active board member and supporter for 22 years, Judge Aldrich now has emeritus status and continues to support Family Legal Care’s work.
The Aldrich fellowship will give a law student with a strong interest in family and domestic violence law, direct services, and access to justice issues, the opportunity to provide legal assistance and guidance to Family Court litigants in matters of child support, custody, visitation and orders of protection. The Aldrich fellow will receive comprehensive training in providing direct services to family court litigants and ongoing supervision and support from Family Legal Care’s team. The fellow will also have the opportunity to conduct legal research, analysis and writing. The internship will be primarily remote, but may include limited in-person time at Family Legal Care’s office in downtown Manhattan and/or in the New York City family courts.
The Aldrich Fellow receives a $500 supplement in addition to their PILC Summer Funding for a 10-12-week internship at Family Legal Care.
First and second year law students are eligible to apply. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to pilc.info@nyu.edu, with a subject FLC-Aldrich Fellowship.
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the Aldrich Fellowship.
- Elizabeth Frankel Immigrant Rights Fellowship
The application deadline for the 2026 Frankel Fellowship is March 23, 2026.
The NYU Elizabeth Frankel Immigrant Rights Fellowship provides funding for NYU JD candidates pursuing a summer internship in immigrant services. The Fellowship was established in honor of the late Elizabeth Frankel ’05, Associate Director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, by her family and friends, in recognition of her having dedicated her legal career to protecting the rights of immigrant children. NOTE: This fellowship is separate from the Young Center's internal Frankel Fellowship.
Each summer, the Frankel Fellowship supports two NYU Law students (one rising 2L and one rising 3L) engaged in immigrant rights work anywhere in the United States. Students with a special connection to the issue and a passion for working with immigrant children are especially encouraged to apply.
Rising 2L Fellows will receive $10,000 and rising 3L Fellows will receive $12,500, in lieu of a regular PILC Summer Funding grant. Fellows are required to submit a brief report of their internship experience at the end of the fellowship to share with the Frankel Family. Fellows will also have the option of writing a scholarly or advocacy piece of their choosing under the supervision of Professor Alina Das, Co-Director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic.
To apply, please submit a resume, a short bio and personal statement (up to 500 words) identifying a) where you will be working this summer, b) why you are choosing to pursue work in immigrant rights, and c) how this fellowship will enable you to accept an otherwise unpaid public service legal summer internship. Application materials should be sent to pilc.info@nyu.edu with the subject line “Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship.”
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the Frankel Fellowship.
- Martin Garbus First Amendment Fellowship
The application deadline for the 2026 Garbus Fellowship is March 30, 2026.
The Martin Garbus First Amendment Fellowship provides funding for NYU JD candidates engaged in First Amendment advocacy. The fellowship was established in honor of Martin Garbus, an NYU Law alumnus and one of the country’s leading First Amendment lawyers.
The Garbus Fellowship will be awarded each year to one NYU Law student who has secured a summer internship anywhere in the United States where they will be focused on First Amendment issues. Applicants with a demonstrated commitment to and passion for this issue are especially encouraged to apply. The Garbus Fellow will receive a $12,000 stipend instead of a regular PILC Summer Funding grant.
To apply, submit a resume, short bio and personal statement (up to 500 words) that describes a) where you will be working this summer, b) your interest in First Amendment work for your summer internship and, if applicable, in your legal career, and c) how this fellowship will enable you to accept an otherwise unpaid public service legal summer internship. Application materials should be sent to pilc.info@nyu.edu with the subject line “Martin Garbus Fellowship.”
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the Garbus Fellowship.
- Abby Lyn Gillette Women's Rights Fellowship
The 2026 application deadline is April 5, 2026.
The Abby Lyn Gillette Fellowship within the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center supports one rising 2L or 3L student spending their summer focused on promoting or improving women’s rights. The Gillette Fellowship was established in honor of the late Abby Lyn Gillette, former Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at NYU School of Law from 2000 to 2008, by her husband, Professor Clayton Gillette, and their son Alex, in honor of her commitment to advancing women’s leadership in the legal profession. This Fellowship award is in lieu of a regular PILC Summer Funding grant.
Applications for the 2026 Abby Lyn Gillette Fellowship will be considered through Sunday, April 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the recipient will be notified in April. To apply, interested rising 2L and 3L students are asked to submit the following materials to womensleadership@nyu.edu with the subject line “Abby Lyn Gillette Fellowship”: 1) resume, 2) unofficial transcript, and 3) short personal statement (of no more than 500 words). The personal statement should describe your interest in and contributions toward women’s rights, broadly defined, in and outside of law school thus far; identify the firm or organization where you will be working over summer 2026; and describe how your work will improve or promote women’s rights.
Learn more about current and previous Abby Lyn Gillette Fellows!
Reach out to the Birnbaum Center with any questions about the Gillette Fellowship.
- International Law and Human Rights Fellowship Program
The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, in cooperation with the Institute for International Law and Justice, selects a group of NYU Law students interested in gaining academic and practical experience in international law and human rights to serve as International Law and Human Rights Fellows. Fellows complete a specialized training program in international law, undertake a summer internship, and complete a research paper that grows out of the field placement. Field placements include the International Law Commission in Geneva, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva and other locations, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, the Legal Resources Center in Johannesburg, and many others.
For Summer 2026 ILHR Fellows, you will still receive your NYU summer funding. However, pursuant to our Law-Firm Sponsored Compensation policy, you will be required to return your funding after receipt of any Law-Firm Sponsored Compensation.
NOTE: PILC funding is available at organizations participating in ILHR only through this program. Summer internships arranged separately with these organizations will not be eligible for PILC Summer Funding.
Reach out to Carolina van der Mensbrugghe with any questions about the ILHR Fellowship.
- Nina Pastor Fellowship for Technology and Justice
Application deadline is generally in late March and will be posted in the Docket.
Created by NYU alumnus and current New York Law School Professor Michael Pastor in honor of his late mother, the Nina Pastor Fellowship for Technology and Justice supports NYU students who are interested in technology and justice-related legal issues. The Nina Pastor Fellowship provides $10,000, in lieu of regular PILC Summer Funding, for one JD student engaged in cybersecurity and/or data privacy, anywhere in the United States. Students with a special connection to the issue and a passion for working on these issues are especially encouraged to apply.
To apply, please submit a resume and a statement of interest statement (up to 500 words) identifying a) where you will be working this summer, b) why you are choosing to pursue work in law and technology space, and c) how this fellowship fits into your current career plans. Application materials should be sent to Gail Zweig at gail.zweig@nyu.edu with the subject line “Nina Pastor Fellowship.”Reach out to Gail Zweig with any questions about the Pastor Fellowship.
- Sudler Family Fellowship in Prosecution
The 2026 application deadline is March 2, 2026.
The Sudler Family Fellowship supports between six and eight NYU Law 1Ls and 2Ls spending their summers at federal and local prosecutors anywhere in the United States. This fellowship is available only to those students who have already secured summer internships at federal (criminal division in a USAO) or local prosecutor offices (DA offices). 2L Sudler Family Fellows will receive $10,000 and 1L Sudler Family Fellows will receive $8,000 instead of a regular PILC Summer Funding grant and will participate in a special program in April, which will include meeting current prosecutors.
To apply, please send a résumé and statement of interest (1-2 pages double-spaced) on why you want to be a prosecutor (including identifying the office at which you will be spending your summer) and include any additional pertinent information about yourself. Please send your application materials to Gail Zweig at gail.zweig@nyu.edu with the subject line “Sudler Family Fellowship." Students who are selected as Fellows must submit an internship report through the summer funding system at the completion of their internship.
Reach out to Gail Zweig with any questions about the Sudler Fellowship.
Term-Time Fellowships
- New York Women’s Bar Association Foundation Fellowship at Her Justice
Each fall and spring term, the New York Women's Bar Association Foundation funds one NYU Law student (JD or LLM) to complete an internship at Her Justice. The position requires 10-20 hours per week. The fellowship pays $2,000 per term (in two installments).
Since 1993, Her Justice has been dedicated to making a real and lasting difference in the lives of women living in poverty in New York City, many of whom are victims of gender-based violence, by offering them legal services designed to foster equal access to justice and an empowered approach to life. We provide free legal services and work towards systemic change in the areas of family, divorce, and immigration law. Our attorneys use a collaborative, client-centered and trauma-informed approach to provide our clients with legal services to address their urgent safety and financial needs. Informed by clients’ experiences, Her Justice works to reform the civil justice system such that it produces the most favorable outcomes for women like our clients, through processes that are as equitable, empowering, and as efficient as possible.
Position Responsibilities
The fellow will work under the supervision of Her Justice staff attorneys. Responsibilities will vary depending upon the applicant’s interests and the program needs of Her Justice. The fellow will learn basic interviewing skills through client interviews and will also learn substantive family, matrimonial and immigration law.
The fellow may be asked to:
- Conduct client intakes and assist in case assessment
- Assist clients with securing non-litigated divorces or immigration status through VAWA self-petitions and U-Visa applications
- Draft responsive pleadings and motions
- Research legal issues and attend working group meetings
- Work with a litigating attorney on active cases in the Family and Supreme Courts and attend court appearances
Qualifications
- NYU School of Law student (J.D. or L.L.M.)
- Good interpersonal and strong organizational skills, self-starter and highly motivated
- Demonstrated interest in domestic violence prevention or women’s issues
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently
- Knowledge of family, matrimonial and/or immigration law is helpful, but not required
- Proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Bengali, Arabic or Russian preferred
Application Instructions
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample, along with two references, to pilc.info@nyu.edu. Please specify “New York Women’s Bar Association Foundation Fellowship” in subject line of email. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only applicants being considered for the position will be contacted by Her Justice.
The application deadlines are March 30th for the fall term and October 30th for the spring term.
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the NYWBAF Fellowship at Her Justice.
- Mittal Environmental Law Fellowship
The State Energy and Environmental Impact Center at NYU Law offers a full-year fellowship for 2L and 3L JD students interested in environmental and climate law. The Center studies and supports state attorneys general, and other organizations and government agencies, and is dedicated to working towards a healthy and safe environment, guided by inclusive and equitable principles.
The Mittal Environmental Law Fellow assists with the Center’s research to study, analyze, and develop innovative legal theories that can be applied to protect people and the environment at the state and national level. The Fellow is appointed for one academic year beginning in August. The 2025-26 Fellows received a $12,500 stipend over the course of the fall and spring semesters ($6,250 per semester).
Applications for the Mittal Fellowship are generally due in July, and will be listed in the Docket.
- Peter L. Zimroth Center on the Administration of Criminal Law – Student Fellowships
The mission of the Peter L. Zimroth Center on the Administration of Criminal Law is to promote good government practices in criminal matters at all levels of government. The Center pursues this mission through a mix of academic and public policy research.
Each academic year, the Center hires Student Fellows to support its work. Student Fellows are paid a stipend and are involved in all aspects of the Center’s work, which could include: conducting research into various criminal legal topics to be included in white papers and policy reports; contributing to the Center’s sharing of expertise and research with research partners and other advocacy organizations; assisting with the Center’s annual conference, which includes prominent academic scholars and practitioners; and assisting with the annual Kenneth P. Thompson Lecture on Race and Criminal Justice Reform, which is co-hosted with the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law. Fellows may also be involved in the Center’s long-term planning and the initiation of future, multi-year research projects.
The Fellowship is listed on the Docket in the spring, and applications are generally due in March for the following academic year.