Summer Public Service Fellowships

In keeping with its citizen-lawyer tradition, William & Mary Law School is proud to support students through summer public service fellowships. Eligible organizations include: 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, 501(c)(4) non-profit organizations, 501(c)(5) non-profit organizations, legal aid offices, public defenders, prosecutors, U.S. Attorneys, government agencies, courts, and judges. Organizations outside the U.S. are eligible if they are legal aid offices, prosecutors, public defenders, government agencies, courts, judges, or non-profit organizations that would qualify if they were U.S. organizations.

Funding sources include:

  • Bell Public Service Fellowships:  Funded by a Law School endowment.
  • Dean’s Fellowships:  Funded by an allocation from the Law School’s Dean.
  • H. Stewart Dunn, Jr. Civil Liberties Fellowships:  Funded by the family of H. Stewart Dunn, Jr., a prominent lawyer, to acknowledge his dedication to safeguarding civil liberties.  Eligible organizations protect civil liberties, with particular emphasis on First Amendment liberties and voting rights. 
  • Hendel Family Fellowships: Funded by Philip Hendel, William & Mary Law Class of 1964.
  • Pinter Fellowships:  Funded by Douglas Pinter, William & Mary Law Class of 1977, for organizations assisting LGBTQ+ clients; projects dealing with legal/policy issues involving sexual orientation or sexual identity; and students committed to those issues. 
  • Purintun Fellowships: Funded by Marc Purintun, William & Mary Law Class of 2000, for organizations assisting LGBTQ+ clients; projects dealing with legal/policy issues involving sexual orientation or sexual identity; and students committed to those issues.
  • Virginia Law Foundation Public Service Internships:  Funded by a generous grant from the Virginia Law Foundation for positions in Virginia. The Virginia Law Foundation promotes through philanthropy the rule of law, access to justice, and law-related education. 
  • Virginia State Bar Criminal Law Section: For criminal law positions in Virginia. 
  • William & Mary Public Service Fund Fellowships:  Funded by the student-run William & Mary Public Service Fund. 
Please note the following important details about the program:
  1. Organizations interested in assistance from William & Mary law students are encouraged to notify the Office of Career Services.
  2. To apply for funding, students must follow procedures described in the Law School's summer public service fellowship application. 
  3. The number of fellowships varies and depends on the money annually available. The application process is very competitive. Each year, the demand for funds exceeds the supply.  There is no guarantee that fellowships will be available in any given year.