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Summer Public Service Funding Application

Purpose of the Fellowship Program

The University of Chicago Law School is committed to supporting a range of summer public service employment opportunities. To meet this commitment, the Heerey Fellowship Program provides one guaranteed award of $6,000 to every 1L student who works in eligible non-profit or government law positions for at least eight full-time weeks of their first-year summer. Second-year students who work in qualifying public service positions for at least eight full-time weeks are also eligible for a single guaranteed award of $6,000 through support from the Chicago Law Foundation (“CLF”), the John Paul Stevens Foundation, and many other generous donors. 

Are you eligible for this funding even if your summer employer also pays you or you receive other external funding? Yes, you may also receive up to $6,000 in other, external (non-Law School) summer funding. Those who receive more than $6,000 in external funding during the same summer in which they received Law School public service funding will be required to relinquish excess Law School funding at the end of the summer. Students who were funded by the Law School during their 1L summer and later receive funding from their 2L summer employer in excess of what is considered standard 2L summer employment income will be expected to repay their 1L Law School Summer Funding award.

Our Summer Funding program relies on the generosity of our friends and alumni who wish to support students as they pursue public service legal work experiences during the summer. Students who accept private sector employment in the future are encouraged to make a donation in the amount of their Law School Summer Funding award. Funds repaid or donated for this purpose will be directed towards future public service summer funding awards.

To receive summer public service funding, please fill out the online application. You will need to log in with your UChicago email and then your CNetID credentials to access the form.

Please submit your Summer Funding application form by May 11th to remain on track for payment in mid-June. Applications can be submitted after this date through August 3rd, but release of funding for applications submitted after May 11th may be delayed past mid-June. 

Carefully review the below terms and conditions for accepting summer funding before requesting summer public service funding. You must check the box on the form acknowledging acceptance of these terms in order to submit your form. 

Student Eligibility

This fellowship program is open only to J.D. students who secure eligible public service or government summer positions. Eligibility for the fellowship is not dependent upon academic grade averages, but if you fall below half-time enrollment, take a leave of absence, or leave the University, the full amount of the initial award will become immediately due and payable to the Law School. Dual degree students, or students who took a leave of absence, are eligible for a maximum of three summer funding awards.

Eligible Public Interest Positions

An eligible position is one in which the student is:

  • Learning about the practice of law in a legal, policy, legislative, or advocacy setting under legal supervision, and in a position where at least one year of law school is normally required
  • Working for the public service
  • Working for a non-profit organization or government office
  • Working in a judicial externship/internship position
  • Working on a full-time basis for at least eight weeks of the summer

Please note individuals working at law firms, private corporations, political campaigns, or in positions at a university (including Law School research assistants and clinical positions) are not eligible to participate. Final determinations of eligibility will be made by the Financial Aid Committee of the University of Chicago Law School.

Submission Process

To be considered, all students volunteering in qualified summer public service positions must submit an online application. 

The Office of Career Services and Office of Financial Aid will review your submitted Summer Funding application and follow up if any additional information is required. In late May, the Office of Financial Aid will reach out with additional information about your funding, as well as documentation you will need to complete before your funding can be processed for payment. 

If you will be working two qualifying positions, you can note this in the form but you are only eligible for up to $6,000 in total Law School funding for the summer. If needed, two qualifying positions can be used to meet the above eligibility criteria (if say, one position is less than 8 weeks in length).

Certification & Verification Processes

In addition to the Summer Funding application, there is additional documentation required both before the funding is paid and then after your summer position has ended. This documentation, along with additional instructions, will be shared with you via email from the Office of Financial Aid.

Pre-Summer Documentation: The Office of Financial Aid will reach out to applicants in late May with additional information about your funding. Participants will also need to certify their summer employment offer by completing the Summer Funding Acknowledgement Form, which will be sent to you by the Office of Financial Aid in late May and must be completed before funding can be processed for payment. 

Post-Summer Documentation: Upon completion of their summer position, participants must provide the following documentation. The Office of Financial Aid will share more information on this documentation in late May, with reminders sent throughout the summer. 

  • An essay (750-1500 words) detailing the summer fellowship and providing a thoughtful summary of the experience.
    • Please Note: Each year, the Office of External Affairs prepares a report for those associated with public service funds -- donors, family members, and fund representatives -- to provide meaningful information on the impact of their philanthropy. This essay may be shared with the donor(s) of your summer funding grant and you may have the opportunity to meet with your fund donor. Donors will receive your essay exactly as you write them, so we ask that you are engaging and attentive to grammar (complete sentences, check your spelling, etc.)
    • Suggested topics to address in your essay include: 
        1. What you learned from working on your project, on your team, at your site, and from your summer public service experience
        2. How this public service support has had an impact on your life and work at the Law School
        3. It is appropriate and highly encouraged to include the words "Thank You"
  • Student Verification Form to be completed by the participating student, providing a post-summer verification and a statement of additional earnings.
  • Host Agency/Organization Certification that must be completed by and returned directly to the Office of Financial Aid from the student's supervisor.

Participants who do not provide all of the above Post-Summer documentation by October 1st must repay the full balance of the Summer funding award and will be ineligible to participate in any further Law School funding programs, including the Law School's LRAP, postgraduate fellowship program, or any scholarship programs. 

Fund Distribution Process

Provided that the Summer Funding Application and Pre-Summer documentation was submitted in a timely manner, students will receive a direct deposit for the full award amount from the University in mid-June. The University will distribute the funds by direct deposit only. If you have access to Workday, the University's human resources system, we strongly advise that you make sure you are signed up for direct deposit in Workday before you submit your summer funding application. If you don't yet have access to Workday, submit the funding application now and you'll receive access to Workday once the University's Payroll Office processes your stipend. Students must agree to the requirements of the program and provide all required documentation to maintain funding.

It is important to note that international students from non-treaty nations may be subject to tax withholdings and a delay in receiving funds from the University. U.S. citizens and Resident Aliens will not be subject to withholdings and will not receive a tax document from the University, though may need to declare the income when filing their taxes. For more information, please check with your tax professional.

Employment Relationship Disclaimer

Acceptance of summer funding does not create an employment relationship with the University of Chicago and eligible participants must understand and acknowledge that participation in the summer funding program does not make them eligible for any University employee status, compensation, or benefit (including, but not limited to, coverage under the workers' compensation and unemployment compensation laws).