UHLC
SUMMER FELLOWSHIP FAQ
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?
What placements qualify for this fellowship?
How do I find a fellowship placement?
What happens after I apply for the fellowship?
When do I know whether I have been selected
for a fellowship?
What do I do about my placement if not selected
for a fellowship?
If selected, when do I get the money?
Do I have to pay taxes on the fellowship
money or will it impact financial aid?
What is the purpose of the fellowship?
To provide opportunities
for work exposure in the public interest legal community, thereby instilling
an excitement about and a commitment to public service in our students
and graduates.
What are the terms of the fellowship?
Awardees will receive
$400.00 a week for a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 weeks for work
with non-profit legal organizations and government agencies (the number
of weeks must be indicated on the Fellowship Application). Students
working outside the Houston area can apply for a Travel and Additional
Expense grant of up to $1,000.00. The exact amount of the travel grant
awarded will be determined by the program administrator in accordance
with funds available for competing needs.
How do I apply for the fellowship?
Students must secure their summer placement with a public
interest organization. The organization must fill out
and submit an Agency
Placement Agreement. Please note this form can be
submitted by the placement electronically, email, fax,
snail mail or hand delivery. Students must submit their
Public Interest Fellowship
Application and Travel and
Additional Expense Grant Request by the posted deadline.
Please begin work on the forms early and save a copy for
your records.
What criteria are considered for selection of
fellows?
1.
Your previous experience and future goals related to serving the public.
It is understood that many law students develop an attraction to public
interest while in law school. A lack of previous experience should not
deter a student from submitting an application.
2.
Your placement. How does the organization serve the public?
How will your time there benefit the organization and the population
they serve? How will the experience help you achieve your public interest
goals?
3.
Your demonstrated understanding of the economic realities of
public interest work. Have you considered how to repay student loans,
if any, on a public interest salary? Have you considered how the lack
of funding for public interest work impacts our justice system? Do
you have any thoughts about how to remedy the funding issues for individual
public interest attorneys and/or organizations? A discussion of potential
funding sources is very favorably considered.
4.
The overall professional and thoughtful quality of your application.
What placements qualify for this fellowship?
Students
may work with legal departments of government agencies or non-profit
organizations. The placement can either provide direct legal services
or be more focused on policy and legislative change. Judicial internships
do not qualify as fellowship placements. Fellowship work must be of
a substantive legal nature and must be supervised by a licensed attorney.
For examples of organizations that have accepted public interest fellows
in the past, see Previous PI Fellowship
Placements.
How do I find a fellowship placement?
Please see Finding Your Fellowship
Placement at left.
What happens after I apply for a fellowship?
The applications
are reviewed by a board of public interest attorneys and faculty who
rank the candidates. The fellowships are awarded in descending order
until funds for this year are exhausted.
When do I know whether I have been selected for
a fellowship?
Recipients will be notified around mid-April.
What do I do about my placement if not selected
for a fellowship?
UHLC highly recommends
keeping all commitments made to an organization. If you aren’t selected
for UHLC Fellowship you have three options:
1. Securing an
external fellowship to fund the work (check the public interest bulletin
board for information on other opportunities),
2. Enroll in the
Clinical Externship class to receive academic credit for the work (the
deadline to apply for the class is generally April 1), or
3. Volunteer.
The wealth of legal experience and good will generated will be well
worth your time.
If, however, it
is impossible to fulfill a work commitment without receipt of fellowship
funding, we ask you to clearly explain the contingent nature of your
application to the organization.
If selected, when do I get the money?
Monies are generally
released the first week of June. Once selected, be sure to provide
an accurate summer address and contact information to ensure timely receipt
of funds.
Do I have to pay taxes on the fellowship money
or will it impact financial aid?
The fellowship
is an educational opportunity closely akin to a scholarship. The University
generally issues recipients a 1099 and you may owe tax on the funds,
depending upon your level of income. Each individual should check with
their own tax advisor and the university financial aid advisor. |
