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
The application deadline for the Aldrich Fellowship is generally 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 single pdf titled [LastName], [FirstName] - Aldrich Fellowship, consisting of a cover letter and resume, to the Aldrich Fellowship Application Portal.
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the Aldrich Fellowship.
- Catalyst Public Service Fellowship
The Catalyst Fellowship application deadline is generally in March.
Each year the New York Bar Foundation's Catalyst Public Service Fellowship Program supports four NYU Law 1Ls working in public defense or prosecution summer internships in New York. Fellows receive an additional $2,500 in addition to their PLC summer funding grant.
Fellows must work at least 10 weeks (35 hours/week) for a “public service employer,” defined as “a New York State prosecutor, a public or not-for-profit agency which provides criminal defense or civil legal services for the indigent and/or representation in juvenile justice or child protective proceedings in New York State courts and the New York State Unified Court System." Fellow may not receive compensation from the employer or any other funding source for his or her internship, aside from PILC summer funding.
Please view the fellowship application for additional criteria and requirements.
To apply, submit the following as a single pdf file, titled [LastName], [FirstName] - Catalyst App, to the Catalyst Fellowship Application Portal:
- a completed application form;
- a resume; and
- an unofficial transcript.
Application materials are generally due in March. Note that the later deadline reflected in the application is the date by which the law school must submit selected applications to the New York Bar Foundation.
Selections are generally made by mid-April. Once selected, fellows must also provide a letter or email from your summer employer confirming employment and number of weeks and hours you will be employed.
Reach out to Emily Kernan with any questions about the Catalyst Fellowship.
- Elizabeth Frankel Immigrant Rights Fellowship
The application deadline for the Frankel Fellowship is generally late March.
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.
Applicants should submit a single pdf titled [LastName], [FirstName] - Frankel Fellowship, consisting of a resume, a short bio and personal statement, to the Frankel Fellowship Application Portal. Your personal statement (up to 500 words) should identify 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.
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the Frankel Fellowship.
- Martin Garbus First Amendment Fellowship
The application deadline for the Garbus Fellowship is generally late March.
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. Applicants should submit a single pdf titled [LastName], [FirstName] - Garbus Fellowship, consisting of a cover letter and resume, to the Garbus Fellowship Application Portal.
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the Garbus Fellowship.
- Abby Lyn Gillette Women's Rights Fellowship
The application deadline for the Gilette Fellowship is generally early April.
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 are generally due by early 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 the summer; 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.
- Sudler Family Fellowship in Prosecution
The application deadline for the Sudler Fellowship is generally in early March.
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
The application deadlines for the NYWBAF Fellowship are March 30th for the fall term and October 30th for the spring term.
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 single pdf titled "[LastName], [FirstName] - NYWBAF Her Justice Fellowship", consisting of a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and two references, to the NYWBAF Her Justice Fellowship Application Portal. Only applicants being considered for the position will be contacted by Her Justice.
Reach out to Katie Neilson with any questions about the NYWBAF Fellowship at Her Justice.