Katherine Hughes
khughes@law.fordham.edu
Summer 2010 Leitner Internship Application
What is it?
The Leitner Internship Fund provides students with grants of up to $5,000 to participate in an international human rights-related internship during the summer. Last year, 26 students were funded. The Leitner Internship Fund is made possible through the generous contribution of the Leitner family.
What are the requirements?
Applicants must agree to work full-time for at least 10 weeks at a non-governmental organization, U.N. agency, or other organization working on international human rights issues. Upon return, the student must submit a three- to five-page report on the experience and make a presentation to the law school community about the internship experience at a Brown Bag Lunch. Students must submit their final report and budget satisfactorily and in a timely manner in order to receive the balance of the grant for which they were approved.
The students are also encouraged to enroll in a special two-credit seminar for Leitner Interns in the fall semester following the internship in order to develop the scholarly aspects of the internship with an eye toward publishing a note or other publication.
When are applications due?
The deadline for 2010 Leitner Summer Internship Funding is March 22, 2010. Students will be notified in late March of funding decisions.
Early notification is available for students who submit their applications by January 22, 2010. Students meeting the January 22 deadline will be informed within approximately two weeks whether their requests for funding are approved, not approved, or on hold for further consideration.
Who is eligible?
Leitner internships are open to all Fordham Law School Students, including evening students.
Are there any prerequisites?
Interested students must attend their choice of at least five events sponsored by the Leitner Center during each of the two semesters preceding their proposed Leitner internships (a total of 10 events). Such events include the Brown Bag Lunch series, film screenings, and discussion panels, among others. Sign-in sheets will be provided at these events.
How do I apply?
Applicants must identify a non-governmental organization, U.N. agency, or other human rights organization with which they intend to partner and submit by email:
- a detailed project proposal (described below)
- a cover letter
- a résumé
- a letter of recommendation (from a professor or employer)
- a copy of your Fordham law School transcript
What is the project proposal?
The project proposal is similar to a grant application and should include the following:
- a project description, developed in consultation with the partner organization, identifying the particular human rights issue that will be the focus of the internship. The project description should describe the human rights issue, why it is significant, and how the student's work will address the issue.
- a description of the partnering organization
- a letter/e-mail of support from the partnering organization
- a rough budget listing expected expenses related to your summer human rights internship.
Note: The Leitner Center also pre-approves internships that students may apply to and should follow the application procedures provided for each of these internships (which may differ slightly from the above). See the link on our Summer Internships page for a complete list of pre-approved internships.
Must I work overseas?
The purpose of the Leitner Internship Fund is to allow students to pursue international human rights work. While there is a preference that students conduct overseas human rights work, applications proposing international human rights-related internships in the United States will also be considered.
What are the criteria?
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- the originality and significance of the project
- the qualifications of the student to complete the project
- the student's demonstrated interest in international human rights
- the student's overall academic record
Note: Students who have participated in the Leitner Internship Program at the end of their 1L year ARE eligible to apply for a second Leitner Internship at the end of their 2L year. Participation as a Leitner Intern does not in any way prejudice your acceptance into the Crowley Scholars Program in your 2L year.
Who will evaluate the applications?
The applications will be evaluated by a committee consisting of Mr. James Leitner, Professor Martin Flaherty, Professor Tracy Higgins, Executive Director Liz Wickeri, and Crowley Fellow Katherine Hughes.
Please email applications to leitnercenter@law.fordham.edu
How is the grant amount determined and paid?
The Leitner Center will review the budget submitted as part of the project proposal and provide a grant of up to $5,000 to cover the costs of an internship. Students will be paid $4,500 before the summer and the balance of approved funds at the end of the summer once the final report and budget have been submitted in a satisfactory and timely manner.
Note: Leitner internship applications from past summers are on file. If you would like to review a sample, please stop by the Leitner Center at 33 West 60th Street and speak with Crowley Fellow Katherine Hughes.
