Information on Fellowships
A number of excellent fellowship opportunities are available to law students over the summer months each year. Fellowships can be a source of funding for students who want to engage in work that might not otherwise be remunerated. Fellowships are offered which fund opportunities for students to work on social justice topics or with public interest organizations. Others are available for students wanting to work with small law firms or sole practitioners. Fellowships must be applied for in advance and typically the selection process is quite competitive. Fellowships are typically granted based on both the strength of the applicant and the quality of the project/work being proposed.
All fellowship opportunities are advertised to students as the deadlines approach. Typically applications will be due in early February each year. Detailed information about each fellowship opportunity will be published in The Source document library at that time.
For more information on any of our fellowship programs do not hesitate to contact Anna Poliszot.
Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Fellowship
This fellowship is specifically targeted for students who are currently in their second year (or third year of a four year program) of study in either the JD or any joint JD program seeking work experience in a small firm environment or with a sole practitioner for the summer. The purpose of the Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Fellowship is to support students in obtaining invaluable exposure to small firm environments and hands on legal experience. The fellowship is designed to enable participants to experience enriching professional and intellectual opportunities and to build networking connections with individuals and organizations that might not otherwise be in a position to work with law students.
Requirements:
Students are responsible for finding placements in a small firm or with a sole practitioner. It is expected that placements will last for no less that ten weeks (minimum of 20 hours per week) between May 1st and August 31st. Fellows will be awarded $2500 for the equivalent of 20 hours of work per week over the course of 10 weeks. Students are encouraged to find placements with practitioners who are willing to match this amount resulting in an additional 20 hours of work per week over the 10 week period or who are willing to extend the 10 week period.
Social Justice Fellowship
All uOttawa law students who are currently in their first or second year (or third year of a four year program) of study in the JD or any joint JD program are eligible to apply. The purpose of the Summer Social Justice Fellowship is to support students in obtaining invaluable exposure to social justice advocacy in either a domestic or international context and to enhance the capacity of future social justice lawyers to pursue social justice goals and work towards the protection of human rights. The Fellowship is designed to enable the Fellows to experience enriching professional and intellectual opportunities.
Requirements:
Students are responsible for finding placements with social justice organizations. It is expected that placements will be full time and last for no less than 10 weeks between May 1st and August 31st. Fellows will be awarded $5000.
Public Interest Fellowship
This is a project designed to support public interest lawyering among uOttawa Faculty of Law students who are currently in their first or second year (or third year of a four year program) of study in the JD or any joint JD program. Fellowships will be awarded to students who choose to work in summer positions that promote public interest activities. Public Interest Fellowship placements or projects might include working for existing social justice organizations or be designed as an independent work proposal. Projects might include activism, community-based law practice, or policy legal work.
Requirements:
Students are responsible for finding a placement with an organization working in the public interest or to design an independent project in the public interest. It is expected that placements will be full time and last for no less than 10 weeks between May 1st and August 31st. Fellows will be awarded $5000.