The Arthur J. Liman Public Interest Program honors a lawyer who personified the ideal of commitment to the public interest. Throughout his long and distinguished career, he demonstrated how dedicated lawyers in both public and private life can serve the needs of people and causes that might otherwise go unrepresented.

Program Overview

Liman Fellows receive a stipend for a minimum eight week summer (ten weeks preferred) internship involving full-time public interest law-related work. The internship may be client-oriented; direct-service casework, either civil or criminal, such as enforcement work by state or local government agencies or litigation by public interest law organizations; or cause-oriented advocacy, such as nonprofit organizations’ policy development and advocacy of legislative and regulatory reforms.

Eligibility

Any freshman, sophomore, or junior undergraduate may apply for a fellowship. The summer stipend is $6,500.

To apply, you need not have located or secured an internship. If you are selected as a fellow, P*LAW and the Yale Law School Liman Program can help you find an internship in an area of your interest.

Liman Fellow Requirements

Those selected as fellows must attend the Liman Public Interest Law Colloquium at Yale Law School. This two day event is currently scheduled to meet in-person in early April at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Fellows are required to submit a final report describing their work at the conclusion of their fellowship and to participate in a workshop for Princeton students and faculty at which they share their experiences.

Selection Process

Up to four undergraduates as recipients of Liman Fellow stipends will be named. The Review Committee will evaluate all applications with special attention to whether an applicant has demonstrated merit and a past commitment to public service; has an interest or involvement with the legal system; has plans or ideas for pursuing these interests in the future, including realistic goals for securing a fellowship placement; and has indicated how the fellowship will enhance the candidate’s academic and career interests.

There will be an Information Session on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 12:30-1:20 pm in Wallace Hall 002.  Applications open October 23, 2024 at 9 am and are due January 10, 2025 at 4 pm.

Please contact Minda Alena, Program Manager ([email protected]) with any questions.