Overview
Since 2007, the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School has offered scholarships and stipends to students from the Global South to attend the LL.M. Program in International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School. In 2011, the program was renamed the Vivian Leitner Global South LL.M. Scholars Program which aims to enable graduate students from the developing world to enroll in Fordham’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law and Justice.
The program offers Selected Scholars a scholarship that waives tuition for the LL.M in International Law and Justice.
The Program is named to honor the memory of Vivian Leitner, who passed away in 2010, was an intrepid traveler, a student of many cultures, and a fierce critic of injustice wherever she found it. She was born in Turkey, eventually immigrating to the US in 1950. She was always grateful for the opportunities she found in the U.S. to advance her education and her work. It is therefore fitting to name in her honor this scholarship program that seeks to create such opportunities for others.
Each year, a distinguished International Committee selects up to four of the most highly qualified students from the global south for this prestigious Program. Vivian Leitner Scholars demonstrate outstanding academic merit and leadership potential and a strong commitment to advancing human rights and justice in their home countries.
The Scholars are fully integrated in the law school community through projects and events at the Leitner Center and Fordham Law School. Vivian Leitner Scholars share their perspectives and experiences with the Law School academic community and contribute to diversity in the Fordham student body, enriching classroom experiences.
About the International Law and Justice LL.M. Program at Fordham Law School
The LL.M. Program in International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School offers students the opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of the rule of law and human rights protection and promotion at international, regional, and domestic levels. This degree is designed primarily for lawyers who work in public interest, including high-level government attorneys, leaders in non-governmental organizations and academics.
Admitted students are required to complete 24 credits of approved courses, including at least 12 credits within the International Law and Justice specialization and a basic course in International Law. Students who do not hold a degree from a U.S. law school are also required to enroll in Introduction to the U.S. Legal System, as well as Legal Research and Writing for LL.M. Students.
More information about the International Law and Justice LL.M can be found at here; more information about Fordham Law School’s LL.M program generally can be found here.
The deadline for the 2024-2025 Vivian Leitner LL.M. Scholarship is February 21, 2024. The 2024-2025 Scholarship application can be found here.
Questions about the Program may be sent to: leitnercenter@law.fordham.edu