Cornell Law School Legal Postgraduate Fellowship

Founded in 1887, Cornell Law School is a top-tier law school, currently ranked 13th by U.S. News & World Report. We offer a 3-year JD program for about 200 students per class, a one-year LLM program for about 90 students from countries throughout the world, and a doctoral (JSD) program for about 2-3 new students per year. Cornell Law School has 41 tenured and tenure-track faculty, including 20 with chaired faculty positions; and 15 clinical professors in the Lawyering Program and in clinics at the local, national, and international level. Our faculty is consistently ranked among the top in the country for scholarly productivity and influence and has pre-eminence in many areas, including quantitative and qualitative empirical legal studies, international and comparative law, and robust doctrinal scholarship in core fields. Our school is committed to being recognized as the leader among law schools at combining inspiring theoretical, doctrinal, and experiential teaching with cutting-edge scholarship in a supportive, intellectually rich community, so that our graduates can achieve excellence in all facets of the legal profession.

We are excited to offer a unique and challenging opportunity for recent law school graduates through our Post-Graduate Legal Fellowship program. This fellowship aims to provide talented individuals with the chance to gain valuable experience in diverse legal environments, including the public interest sector, private sector, or within the judiciary. The selected fellows will have the opportunity to engage in substantive legal work, benefit from mentorship programs, and build a strong professional network.

Fellows will be expected to secure a placement in a legal field of interest. We encourage applicants to work with their respective career offices to secure a placement.

The fellowship placement will be evaluated on the following, as appropriate:

• The fellow is actively involved in substantive legal work relevant to their areas of interest.
• The organization provides opportunities for professional development.
• The experience allows for mentorship and networking, both within and outside of the placement organization

Fellows will have the flexibility to choose their placement based on their preferences and career goals.  Eligible placements will be in the public interest, state and local government, private sector or in the judiciary. Fellows should expect to work for one placement for that year.

This is a full-time position for a one-year term, and is benefits eligible. The fellowship can be in person, hybrid, or virtual as long as the applicant and the organization are both located in the United States. Occasional travel to Cornell Law School will be required to check-in/report on the fellowship activities.  

Eligibility:

Applicants must be a 2023 law school graduate from an ABA accredited law school. They must secure a sponsoring organization and, together with the organization, submit an overview of the work to be done. The sponsoring organization and the fellow must be based in the United States.

Selection Process:

Applicants will be interviewed by a faculty committee at Cornell Law School. Criteria the committee will use to evaluate applicants and potential sponsoring organizations will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Applicants: The candidate's demonstrated or stated interest in the area (s) of law proposed, or a statement of how this experience will benefit the applicant’s professional goals.
• Sponsoring Organization: The organization's commitment and ability to provide training, support and supervision.  An articulation of how the project fits into organizational priorities.

Supervision:

The work must be performed under the supervision of:  

• An attorney who is a member of the law school faculty, an adjunct faculty member or an instructor employed by a law school; or
• An attorney admitted to practice and in good standing with the appropriate licensing authority in a jurisdiction, provided that the supervisory work does not violate any statute, regulation or code regarding the unauthorized practice of law; or
• In the case of a clerkship or externship in a court system, by a judge or an attorney employed by the court system.

To Apply:

Please submit the below to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/27128 by Monday, March 11, 2024. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with preference to applications received earlier.

• Cover Letter/Fellowship Proposal: Proposed plan for the one-year fellowship term. Include a short statement (no more than 3 double-spaced pages) describing your interest or focus in this particular area of work. It can include how the experience will benefit your future career endeavors.
• Curriculum Vitae: Include your full name, your law school name and year of graduation, your current mailing address, your phone number, and your email address.
• Host Organization Information (as applicable): Include organization name, organization mailing address, organization web site address, organization mission statement, name of organization attorney/judge who will supervise you, supervisor’s phone number, and supervisor’s email address.
• Host Organization Letter: A statement indicating that the organization will commit to integrating you into the organization, which includes providing supervision and professional support.
• Law School Transcript: An unofficial transcript is sufficient.
• References: From people who are familiar with you and/or your work. Include the person's name, title, organization, how they know you, phone number and email address.

Questions may be referred to Akua Akyea, Associate Dean for Career Development, at [email protected] .

The anticipated starting salary for this position is $57,000. The Fellow will be paid through Cornell payroll and will need to satisfy those hiring requirements. 

Pay Range:

$56,484.00 - $80,000.00

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information .

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected] .

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected] .

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected] .

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here . This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

2024-02-06