Program Overview

Fellowships are awarded for one year, but are renewable annually subject to satisfactory academic performance and full participation in program activities and externships. Students must maintain a satisfactory average in their law school work; the present requirement is 3.25 GPA.

After their first and second years of law school, fellows are encouraged to complete two 10-week summer externships at non profit organizations devoted to legal advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community. Externships enable students to integrate the practical experience of full-time work with their formal legal training. Hofstra Law School provides fellows with a $7,500 stipend to cover living expenses while completing approved summer externships. At the end of the summer, students are required to submit written reports to the director on their externships.

• Click here to see a complete list of past summer placements

Fellows have the opportunity to enroll in a comprehensive course of study devoted to equality, including courses in Sexuality and the Law, Sex Discrimination, Jurisprudence, or an independent study and tutorial designed to address issues of particular concern to the LGBT community. Fellows are also invited to attend Hofstra Law School’s Colloquium on Law & Sexuality.

Upon graduation, fellows are expected to commit to helping further the civil rights advancement efforts of the LGBT community through LGBT related advocacy and organizations.