The Program:
The Planning and Law Division (“PLD”) of the American Planning Association (“APA”) serves those who seek to understand the diverse legal issues that affect the planning profession. The legal issues underlying the planning of cities and communities are important and essential components in the education and training of those who would become professional planners and land use practitioners. The purpose of the PLD Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship Program (“Fellowship Program”) is to foster increased interest in the study of land use planning and its interrelationship with the law at the advanced undergraduate, graduate, and law school levels. This will provide increased participation in the planning profession, and ultimately, greater service to communities across the nation. The Fellowship Program is open to third and fourth year undergraduate students, first and second year master’s degree students, and first and second year law students. One fellowship with a stipend of $3,000 is awarded per academic year. The stipend includes a $2,000 award and a $1,000 APA membership and Annual Conference stipend. The term of the fellowship is approximately ten months (the typical length of two semesters or three quarters) and will include approximately 100 to 200 total hours of work. The fellow will conduct his/her fellowship duties remotely, i.e., from where they live or attend school.
Fellowship Responsibilities & Benefits:
If selected for an award by the PLD Fellowship Committee, the fellow’s responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, assisting the PLD with preparing and conducting its annual membership survey, assisting the editor of the PLD Newsletter (published quarterly), preparing articles for publication in the PLD Newsletter, serving as a Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) liaison between the APA and various states for the provision of CLE credits to its members, and assisting with the solicitation and review of session proposals submitted by PLD members for the annual National APA Conference. Fellowship benefits include contact with a network of nationally recognized leaders in the field; access to newsletters, webinars, educational sessions and online resources featuring current legal issues and trends relevant to planning; participation in planning and law networking events; and opportunities for leadership and volunteerism in the planning and law field.
Application Requirements:
Applicants for the Fellowship Program shall complete an application form and shall submit all of the following:
- a two- to three-page personal and background statement written by the student, describing their interest in a career in planning and the law, and describing what impact the student wants to make in the planning and law field.
- one letter of recommendation in support of the student’s application and career goals;
- official transcripts of current course of study – to be requested by student with adequate time for receipt by the PLD Fellowship Program Administrator no later than September 14, 2012;
- a resume of work experience and background;
- verification of student enrollment (for current students) or a copy of an acceptance letter from a PAB accredited graduate planning school or a law school (for incoming students); and
- the student’s signature on the application form.
Please Note: Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the PLD Committee. To verify the status of your application, email a request here.
Deadline:
The application submittal deadline for the Fellowship Program is September 14, 2012. All original application information must be received in the PLD Fellowship Program Administrator by that date. If forwarded via FED-EX or similar courier service the delivery must be made to PLD by September 14, 2012. Faxed or electronic documents will not be accepted. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the Committee.
For the application and additional information regarding where to send the application materials, the award process, selection criteria, etc., please visit the website.