The Kenneth I. Juster International Fellowship (Juster Fellowship) provides HLS J.D. students with the opportunity to pursue experiential learning opportunities abroad for three to eight weeks during the summer after their 1L or 2L year.
Juster Fellows undertake law-related projects with a focus on one or more of the following areas: international law; international relations; international trade, investment, finance, and economic affairs; international development; international negotiation and dispute resolution; diplomacy; national security; economic sanctions; or global governance and affairs. Projects may be in the form of independent research or practical work (i.e., a self-directed activity or project done in conjunction with an organization) and could involve a variety of methodologies or work plans. For example, students might conduct archival or other types of research or interviews, engage in advocacy work, assist with litigation, provide legal services, or develop a standalone project with an organization. The specifics of the work will vary by student but should be well defined and designed to result in a substantive end-product or meaningful contribution to the field.
Fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis* and will be open to HLS 1Ls and 2Ls, with preference given to 2Ls. Projects must take place between May 16 and August 31, 2026, and must be conducted in person (i.e., funding is not available for remote work). Although preference will be given to work abroad, internationally focused projects that take place in the United States will also be considered. Fellows working in conjunction with an organization or institution may not receive remuneration. Modest stipends may be acceptable and should be noted when applying.
How To Apply
All application materials should be submitted to the Juster Fellowship program (c/o International Legal Studies) via the CARAT online application system by March 15.
The following application components should be submitted as PDF files via CARAT:
- a current CV/resume
- an unofficial Harvard Law School transcript that is current as of the application submission date (information on ordering transcripts can be found at https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/registrar/transcript-requests/)
- a letter of recommendation from an HLS faculty member. Note: Recommendation letters must be submitted by recommenders directly via CARAT by March 15. To give your recommender sufficient time to submit their recommendation by the deadline, please contact them well in advance of the application deadline, and request that they send the letter as a PDF file via CARAT once the system has prompted them to do so.
In addition:
For independent research
- a proposal (not to exceed 1,000 words) clearly describing the proposed project, including:
- a detailed explanation of the methodology (e.g., the specific research questions you plan to address and the people or resources you will consult)the potential value of your project, as well as possible challenges
- the necessity for travel to complete your project
- relevant experience, background, and skills pertinent to the project (including foreign language skills if applicable)
- a proposed end product (e.g., scholarly paper, article, etc.)
- a bibliography
For practical work
- a proposal (not to exceed 1,000 words) clearly describing the proposed work plan, including:
- a detailed explanation of the substantive legal work you expect to undertake
- if applicable, a description of the organization you will be working with, and how your project relates to/supports the mission of the organization
- the potential value of your project, as well as possible challenges
- the necessity for travel to complete your project
- relevant experience, background, and skills pertinent to the project (including foreign language skills if applicable)
- a proposed end product (e.g., legal memo, report, etc.)
Please note that interviews may be required for shortlisted candidates. Applicants will be notified of Fellowship selections in early April.
Awards, Benefits and Expectations
- Funding amounts for summer 2026 are expected to be $950/week.
- In the event that a project is eligible for HLS Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF), applying for SPIF will be a prerequisite for being awarded a Juster Fellowship. Fellowship funding would then be in the form of a supplement to the base SPIF amount. Fellows who also receive SPIF will need to ensure that they do not exceed the allowable funding cap.
- Fellows are expected to make their own travel, visa, and housing arrangements for their summer projects, and must complete the required HLS international travel procedures for students traveling abroad with Harvard funding.
- If a Fellow’s project includes research involving human subjects, including interviews or surveys, or obtaining information by other means, it may require review and approval by the Harvard Committee on the Use of Human Subjects.
- Fellows will be required to submit a written evaluation of their experience.
- Fellowship recipients will be known as Juster Fellows and will be featured on the Juster International Fellowship webpage and invited to attend a special debriefing event.
*Factors considered by the Selection Committee will include:
- the thoughtfulness, clarity, and completeness of the proposal, including the rigor of the project’s methodology and/or requisite detail about the specific work plan
- the reasons the student wants to undertake the project, including its relation to the student’s goals and their academic, intellectual, practical, and other experiences
- the appropriateness of the scope and the feasibility of the project, given the proposed duration
- the student’s qualifications for the project, including academic performance and foreign language proficiency, if relevant
- the originality and potential impact of the project