Human Rights @ Duke Law

EXTENDED DEADLINE: Friday, February 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (ET)

Applications Closed

Duke Law School is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026-2027 post-graduate fellowship in public international law and international human rights. Created in 2017, the one-year fellowship is intended to support students with a demonstrated interest and commitment to pursuing a career in public international law and human rights.

The fellowship is open to JD, JD-LLM, and LLM students of Duke Law School who are graduating in May 2026, as well as to recent graduates within the past three years (i.e. the JD, JD-LLM, and LLM classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025). Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in public international law and/or human rights through their course work, clinical activities, externships, and other professional experiences. For 2026–2027, the fellowship will enable one Duke Law graduate to work from Fall 2026 in one or more nongovernmental or international organizations to be determined in consultation with the selection committee. The selected fellow will receive a stipend of $55,000.

Application process:

Applications must be submitted in full no later than Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. A complete application must include:

• Personal statement of 1–2 pages
• Resume/C.V.
• Official law school transcripts
• List of three references
• Writing sample

Selection process:

Qualifications and criteria for selection will include the following:

• Demonstrated knowledge of public international law and/or human rights law
• Relevance of fellowship to applicant’s career goals
• Curricular and extra-curricular activities undertaken in public international law and/or human rights law, including clinics and externship
• Commitment to a career in public international law and/or human rights
• Highly motivated and able to work effectively, both independently and as part of a team
• Professional experience in public international law and/or human rights law
• Written and oral communication skills, including additional knowledge of languages

A selection committee will notify finalists for interviews.