Graduate
Public Interest Fellowship FAQ
University of Houston Law Center
What is the purpose of the fellowship?
What are the terms of the fellowship?
How do I apply for the fellowship?
What criteria are considered for
selection of fellows?
Which organizations participate
in the graduate fellowship program?
What happens after I apply
for the fellowship?
If selected, when do I get the money?
What if I am selected for a fellowship,
but my plans between now and September change?
Do I have to pay taxes on the fellowship
money?
What is the purpose
of the fellowship?
These fellowships serve a dual purpose: (1) To
partner in service to the community by providing legally
educated staffing resources to public interest organizations
that represent populations with un-met legal needs and
(2) To provide a valuable avenue of supervised direct
service legal experience to our graduates between sitting
for a bar exam and receiving bar results.
Return to top
What are the terms of the
fellowship?
Fellows agree to use their education and talents to serve
the public interest organization part-time for
for a minimum of eight weeks during the months
of September and October while waiting for bar results. The exact schedule
is to be negotiated between the student and the organization,
but once agreed, must be submitted to the Office of Career
Development. A limited list of pre-approved eligible placements
will be provided. At the time of application, students
may request an alternative placement at a non-profit
or government agency by submitting a signed agency agreement
and a brief statement as to why the organization should
be considered.
The Fellowship Award is $1500.00 or $2500 depending upon
geographic location. Additional funding requests to defray
travel expenses for out-of-state placements will be considered
in an amount up to $500.00. The exact amount of
the travel grant awarded will be determined by the program
administrator in accordance with funds available for competing
needs.
Return to top
How do I apply for the
fellowship?
The application is a two-step process (1) application/approval
from UHLC Fellowship Committee and (2) approval from placement
organization.
Fellows applying for an approved placement must complete
and turn in the application (indicating their top three
choices of placement in order of preference) and their
current resume to the Career Development Office between
April 1, 2008 and May 20, 2008. The fellowship committee
will review applications on a rolling basis so those applying
early have the best chance of receiving funding.
If you are requesting an “off-list” placement
please apply during the same time period with your application,
resume, statement of why your proposed organization should
be considered and an executed Agency Placement Agreement.
Once the fellowship committee approves an application,
the applicant must meet with the agency for their approval
and signature of the Agency Placement Agreement and Bar
Card Application within ten days. Graduate Fellows
are responsible for paying the $10.00 fee to the State
Bar for their temporary license and for mailing the application.
The applicant must return the Agency Placement Agreement
to Career Development and execute any other required documents
to secure/process the funds. Requests for travel
funding will be considered upon return of the Agency Placement
Agreement.
Return to top
What criteria are
considered for selection of fellows?
1. Applicant’s legal
and other work experience.
2. Applicant’s articulated
career and first job goals. An explanation of how
this program will help prepare applicant to embark on
their career.
3. Applicant’s interest
in serving the community (whether for this period of time
or as a career). It is understood that many law
students develop an attraction to public interest while
in law school. A lack of previous community service should
not deter a student from submitting an application.
4. The overall professional
and thoughtful quality of the application.
Return to top
What placements
qualify for this fellowship?
The organizations/offices listed below have agreed to
participate. Please pay careful attention to the
locations and number of fellows an organization can accept.
Graduates applying for these positions should be prepared
to spend their fellowship out of town. More detail
on the agencies can be found on the UHLC public interest
table talk web site:
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Houston (family, domestic
violence) $1500
Center for Children Law & Policy $1500
Harris County District Attorney's Office $1500
Lone Star Legal Aid (Hurricane relief & family, housing,
consumer, government benefits)
Beaumont $2200
Galveston $2000
Houston $1500
Nacogdoches $2500
If considering an alternate placement, please be aware
that priority for placement will be given to organizations
that provide individual legal representation. Applications
for alternate placements must include a completed Agency
Agreement. Fellowship work must be of a substantive legal
nature and must be supervised by a licensed attorney.
Return to top
What happens
after I apply for a fellowship?
The applications are reviewed by an anonymous review
board which will meet periodically between April 7, 2008
and June 3, 2008. Applications are reviewed on
a rolling basis so a candidate may learn of the decision
within a short period of applying. However, at the
discretion of the committee, an application may be held
for future decision. Candidates will be personally notified
of the board’s decision by the email provided in
their application. If selected, the board’s
decision will include the organization/location/contact
information of the fellowship. The candidate must
then make arrangements to meet with their organization
and obtain the Agency Placement Agreement within 10 days
of notification of the aware.
Return to top
If selected, when do I
get the money?
Funds will be released by the end of July. Be sure
to keep your summer address and contact information updated
to ensure timely receipt of funds.
Return to top
What if I am selected
for a fellowship, but my plans between now and September
change?
The participating organizations are extremely busy and
have made special arrangements to accommodate/arrange
work for our fellows. We ask that you make every
effort to fulfill your commitment to them prior to embarking
on another path (and the commitment can be fulfilled during
the month of August). If you receive/accept a full
time job before July 1, please notify Dean Beassie immediately
and the Law Center will try and fill your spot with another
eligible candidate. However, once you have received
the fellowship funds (in mid/late July), the expectation
is that you will complete the fellowship. If you
cannot complete your obligation, you must return the funding
to the Law Center. Please keep in contact with Dean Beassie
and let her know of any concerns, employment offers, and
other life-changing events which may impact your fellowship.
Return to top
Do I have to pay taxes
on the fellowship money?
Each individual should check with their own tax advisor.
The fellowship is an educational opportunity closely akin
to a scholarship, however the University may issue a 1099
for funds released. Taxes owed would depend upon
a number of factors, so again, each individual should
check with their own tax advisor.
Return to top |
