The Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law at Yale Law School is now accepting applications for Fellows-in-Residence who join the Center’s research and teaching projects for one to two years. Graduates of law schools who have done work thereafter are eligible to apply. Individuals who have held other fellowships, including those sponsored by the Liman Center, are also eligible.
Fellows-in-Residence contribute to the Center by helping to shape its research and programs and supervise students. Liman Center academic offerings include Liman Projects: Research for Reform, an experiential course that uses a variety of methods to inform significant changes in the law. In addition, each spring, the Liman Workshop is a two-hour seminar for law students. Topics vary, for example, in 2023, the workshop is Imprisoned: Construction, Abolition, Alternatives; other workshops have addressed other topics, including Rationing Access to Justice in Democracies: Fines, Fees, and Bail and Racial Justice and Immigrants' Rights: Debates and Dialogues. These fellowships generally begin in August before the start of the academic year. Compensation includes full benefits and a salary commensurate with experience.
In addition, such Fellows often work collaboratively with Yale Law School’s clinical program, other parts of the University, and entities such as public defenders and community organizations in Connecticut. The Curtis-Liman Fellowship – established in 2020 to honor Professor Dennis Curtis, a co-founder of Yale Law School’s clinical program— enables a law school graduate to spend one or two years working on innovative criminal law, immigration, or other advocacy.
Current and former Fellows-in-Residence have worked on prosecutorial misconduct, prison systems’ responses to COVID, the fiscal impact of the legal system, and alternatives to sentencing in conjunction with the Federal Defender’s Office in the District of Connecticut. A summary of the work of current and former Fellows-in-Residence is available on the Liman Center’s website.
Fellowship-in-Residence positions generally begin in August before the start of the academic year. Compensation includes full benefits and a salary commensurate with experience. Descriptions of current and former Fellows-in-Residence is enclosed, as well as available on the Liman Center’s website.
Selection Criteria
Judith Resnik, Arthur Liman Professor of Law and Liman Center Founding Director, chairs the Liman Fellowship Selection Committee. Fellowship-in-Residence applications are reviewed for:
- experience using law to further the public interest in a variety of settings, including public service organizations, government service, education (including law school clinics), or the private sector;
- knowledge of topics related to the proposed research topics or projects;
- ability to work with others, listen to communities, clients, colleagues, and potential adversaries, and work creatively;
- demonstrated commitment to social justice and public service;
- interest in being in relationship to YLS, the Liman Center, and clinical programs;
- academic accomplishments, post-law school experience, and other qualifications; and
- for Curtis-Liman Fellowship applicants: the proposed project’s connection to criminal law and/or immigration and, if applicable, the proposed collaboration with other centers, clinics, or outside organizations.
How to Apply
Applications for Fellowships-in-Residence are welcome as of the fall of 2022. Please apply no later than February 3, 2023. Applicants are expected to discuss their projects with the Liman Center Director Jennifer Taylor and reach out to former Fellows for advice before submitting an application. The Center has samples from past fellowship proposals. Visit the Liman Center’s website for details about application requirements and the submission process.
Explore the Liman Center’s Fellowships web page at https://law.yale.edu/liman/fellowships and contact Liman Center Director Jennifer Taylor at Jennifer.taylor@yale.edu