The ideal applicant will be committed to pro bono service, have at least three years of post-graduate experience in the practice of law, demonstrate leadership ability, be employed at a law firm or corporate law department with a reputation in its community for excellent private practice and a commitment to pro bono service and come from a city or country that has some tradition of pro bono practice. Only students admitted to Columbia's LL.M. program will be considered for the LL.M. Pro Bono Fellowship.
A complete application consists of:
1) An application to the LL.M. program at Columbia Law School. The LL.M. application must be postmarked no later than December 15, 2007. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted.
Information about selection criteria for the LL.M. program and a copy of the LL.M. program application are available at http://www.law.columbia.edu/llm_jsd/app_instr.
2) An application to the LL.M. Pro Bono Pilot Program. The application for the Pilot Program must be postmarked no later than December 15, 2007. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted.
The Pro Bono Pilot Program Application consists of:
- A short (1-2 pages, single spaced) essay by the applicant describing the current and previous pro bono work done and goals for pro bono service for the next five years, including a statement of commitment by the applicant to return to his or her home country and to perform a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service annually after completion of the LL.M. Pro Bono Fellowship.
- A brief (1-2 paragraphs) description of the nature of pro bono in the applicant’s home city or country.
- A letter of nomination by a person at the applicant’s law firm, who can comment knowledgeably about the applicant's leadership abilities, pro bono commitment and plans; and who is authorized to include the required statement committing the firm to allowing the applicant to perform a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service annually upon return to the firm after completion of the LL.M. Pro Bono Fellowship.
- A letter of nomination by a person who works at a not-for-profit organization or a law school public interest clinical education program, who can comment knowledgeably about the applicant's leadership abilities, pro bono commitment and plans. Ideally, this letter would be written by a person at an organization with which the applicant may perform pro service upon return home after completion of the LL.M. Pro Bono Fellowship. Persons who work at the applicants’ law firm cannot write this letter.
The application for the LL.M. Pro Bono Pilot Program should be sent to:
Ellen P. Chapnick
Dean for Social Justice Initiatives
Columbia Law School
Box B-26
435 W. 116th Street
New York, New York 10027
Faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted.
For more information about the LL.M. Pro Bono Fellowship Program, contact Dean Chapnick at chapnick@law.columbia.edu or 212-851-1929.
See the attached invitations to apply, available in both Spanish and English.