The Leitner Internship Program awards up to two stipends for human rights internships each semester. Accepted students receive $2000 to work part-time for ten weeks during the academic semester. Students identify and secure an internship at a non-governmental organization, U.N. agency, or other human rights organization with which they intend to partner. After securing an internship with the partner organization, students can apply for the stipend through the process described below. Stipends are intended to support work in that field that will further students’ international legal training.

Overview

Past interns have worked at Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, the International Human Rights Committee of the New York City Bar Association, agencies of the United Nations, Scholars at Risk, the International Rescue Committee, and other NGOs. Students may also apply to intern with other organizations working on international human rights issues.

Students are also encouraged to enroll in the Clinical Externship: International and Domestic Human Rights Seminar in order to receive 2 credits for the internship. If you are interested in applying for an externship course (fieldwork and seminar), you must complete an Application for Course Registration. Contact the Externship Program at Externships@law.fordham.edu to complete the necessary paperwork.

Eligibility

Fordham Law School JD students in the day and evening programs who have completed their 1L year and LL.M students are eligible to apply for the internship stipends, subject to the below Terms and Conditions.

Terms and Conditions

Students agree to work 140 hours over the course of the semester (approximately 10 hours per week) at a non-governmental organization U.N. agency, or other organization working on international human rights issues. Applicants must find their own internship placements.

The $2,000 internship stipend is awarded at the end of the semester upon successful completion of:

(1)   140 hours of in-office work at the partner organization, as evidenced by time sheets signed by the intern supervisor; and

(2)   a completed internship report.

Deadline

Applications for Fall 2011 funding are due Friday, September 9, 2011. Applications for Spring 2012 funding are due Friday, January 13, 2012.

Application

Students identify a non-governmental organization, U.N. agency, or other human rights organization with which they intend to partner. Only after applying for and securing an internship with the partner organization do students apply for a stipend through the Leitner Center.

The application comprises:

• Cover letter: A one-page letter stating your interest and reasons for applying to work with a human rights organization, relevant past experience, and what you hope to gain from the experience.
• Résumé or CV
• Project proposal: A short description of the organization with whom you are partnering, a description of the work you will be undertaking, and a letter or email from the partnering organization confirming that the applicant has been accepted as an intern for a minimum of ten hours per week for the duration of the semester.
• Transcripts: An official or unofficial copy of your Fordham Law School transcript to date

Note: Students may apply for funding before receiving confirmation from their partner organization that they have been selected as an intern in order to meet the funding deadline set by the Leitner Center. In these cases, students should indicate that they are waiting to hear from their partner organization provided that confirmation is received with time enough for the internship to be completed within the semester.

Evaluation and selection

Up to two stipends may be awarded each semester. In the absence of applications that meet the criteria of the program, no stipends may be awarded.