About

Fellowship opportunities

Summer Law Fellow 

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Do you have an interest in public service, government, the judiciary, or academia? Are you looking for a multifaceted and experiential learning experience related to government and the courts? If so, join the School of Government summer law fellowship program.

The UNC School of Government educates and advises state and local government officials including judges, legislators, economic development officers, and many others. We’re seeking talented rising 2Ls and 3Ls to be part of our summer law fellowship program. You’ll help our faculty work on publications for public officials, see government in action, and have an opportunity to co-author publications with faculty.

The summer law fellowship program provides an opportunity to learn about the School of Government’s mission, government at the state and local levels in North Carolina, and the many organizations and public officials with which we work. Fellows work on legal issues of current interest to School of Government faculty and clients. Substantive areas we address include but are not limited to tax and finance, economic development, land use, community planning, social services, public health, elections, employment, criminal law, and civil law.

Fellows work on a variety of assignments provided by faculty, including research and writing, advising, and observations of School programs and government and court functions. Throughout the summer, fellows are exposed to the overall work of the School, and in particular, learn about the daily work and responsibilities of faculty members. Fellows may assist with advising clients alongside a faculty member. By attending conferences and courses designed for and administered to our clients, fellows have the opportunity to learn about the needs of public officials, learn directly from our faculty, and observe different types of teaching by faculty members.

It is expected that the fellows will demonstrate their research, writing, and analytical skills through either a publication of a blog on one of the School’s various blogs serving the State’s public officials, attorneys, and citizens or though some other writing published by the School or by giving a presentation on a discrete topic to faculty. Written publications may be co-authored with faculty or authored solely by a fellow, depending on the nature of the scope and nature of the assignment.

The position is a ten-week program, at 40 hours a week, and pays $ 7,000. There will be three summer law fellows who will work together. Faculty co-directors of the fellowship program will provide general guidance and support to the fellows throughout the summer, with opportunities for fellows to work one-on-one with other faculty to complete specific projects.

Fellows will also be paired with a faculty mentor.

Law students interested to learn more about the summer law Fellows program should contact one Danny Spiegel (spiegel@sog.unc.edu) or Sara DePasquale (sara@sog.unc.edu).