Career Development Office Blog

The Center for Reproductive Rights – Columbia Law School Fellowship

By Career Development Office on September 5th, 2012

The Center for Reproductive Rights – Columbia Law School Fellowship (CRR-CLS Fellowship) is a two-year, post-graduate fellowship offered by the Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) andColumbia Law School (theLawSchool). The Fellowship is designed to prepare recent law school graduates for legal academic careers in reproductive health and human rights. Fellows will be affiliated with the Center and theLawSchooland will participate in the intellectual life of both programs.

The CRR-CLS Fellowship is a full-time, residential fellowship for up to two full years starting in June, July, or August 2013. The Fellow will be a member of the community of graduate fellows at the Law School, will be integrated into the legal and policy work of the Center, and will have a work space at both locations. The Fellow will also have access to law school facilities, including the library and on-line research resources, and faculty events. It is expected that the Fellow will work closely with an assigned law school faculty mentor.

Fellows will pursue independent research and scholarship in preparation for entering the legal academic job market at the conclusion of their first Fellowship year. Fellows are expected to produce a work of serious scholarship during their fellowship tenure. Fellows will also have responsibility for the planning and hosting of academic conferences and/or roundtable discussions. The scope and detail of the Fellows’ work will be agreed upon in consultation with their faculty mentor and the Center for Reproductive Rights.

STIPEND AND BENEFITS:  The Fellow will receive $55,000 per year for each full year in residence. There may be an additional stipend for research-related costs as needed and available. The Fellow shall be responsible for purchasing and maintaining her or his own health insurance. The Fellow may purchase insurance through Columbia University.

ELIGIBILITY:  Applicants must show exceptional promise as a legal scholar and a commitment to entering legal academia in the United States. An interest in reproductive or sexual rights, women’s rights and/or human rights is required, although extensive experience in the field is not essential. Applicants will be evaluated by the quality of their application materials, and by their record of academic and professional achievement. A J.D. from an accredited law school in the United States is strongly preferred. In some exceptional cases, we may consider those with foreign law degrees. If the future Fellow is not a U.S. citizen, a J-1 visa is required and Columbia will provide the necessary paperwork for the process. An F-1 visa is not allowed for appointment to Columbia as a post-doctoral fellow. Fellows are not required to be graduates of Columbia Law School.

APPLICATION:  Completed applications must be received by the Law School by October 29, 2012. Please note that it is strongly preferred that application materials be submitted electronically. A complete application must include:

1. CRR-CLS Fellowship Application Form (biographical and contact information);

2. Curriculum Vitae;

3. Official transcripts from college, law school and any graduate schools attended;

4. Statement of Scholarly Interest and future academic projects, including a discussion of how the fellowship will help the applicant in pursuing those interests and realizing those projects;

5. A paper or other writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s writing and analytical abilities and ability to generate interesting original ideas. This can be a draft rather than a publication;

6. Three letters of reference. At least two letters must be from professors who can speak to the applicant’s academic potential. Letters from tenured professors are preferred.

All materials should be emailed to Marianne Carroll, Faculty Assistant.

If any materials must be mailed, please address them to: