Rudman Summer Fellows Program
Rudman Summer Fellowships support 1L and 2L JD students who work pro bono in the summer for government agencies and non-profits that perform public interest legal work. These fellowships pay up to $4,800 for 10 weeks of full-time work. We anticipate being able to award at least 60 Rudman summer fellowships every summer.
Full list of our most recent Summer Fellows and the organizations where they served.
Placements
Students must secure their own placements. An appropriate placement includes 501(c)(3) organizations or other non-profits or a governmental employer. Full-time remote work will qualify. Internships that fall short of 40 hours per week, or 10 weeks, may be considered and/or combined with another part-time internship, provided total hours do not exceed 40 hours per week for 10 weeks.
Application Process
Applications open late January and are due by April 15, 2023. Here are the application steps:
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form by March 1, 2023. All applicants must complete the FAFSA form for summer work study and list the UNH 002589 school code. Please complete the FAFSA even if you don't think you qualify for work study, and/or if you have not yet secured a summer placement. (Please note that international students will not complete the FAFSA form and can skip to step 2.)
- Complete the Qualtrics application once you have your internship offer. Please note: Complete the application in one sitting because Qualtrics will not save work in progress. (Please notify the Career Services Office, career.services@law.unh.edu, if you are having difficulty securing your internship offer and intend to apply.)
Rudman-Peterson Fellows Program
The Rudman-Peterson Fellowship is awarded each spring to a 1L who is interested in fiscal policy. The fellowship is funded by a generous grant from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. It pays full tuition for its recipient’s 2L and 3L years, as well as $4,800 stipends for placements in summer positions involving budgetary and fiscal work.
Qualtrics applications are due no later than 4 pm on Monday, February 6, 2023. And please note: Complete the application in one sitting because Qualtrics will not save work in progress.
Faculty with expertise in the Fellow’s chosen focus area will supervise and advise that Fellow during over the final two years of law study. Upon graduation, each Rudman-Peterson Fellow will have accomplished the following:
• Completed the fiscal policy seminar titled “The Federal Budget, Legislation & Appropriations.”
• Engaged in a legal residency or research internship in the areas of fiscal policy, public policy, and government either within the University, at a government office, or at an independent non-profit research or advocacy organization.
• Worked in a summer placement following the first and second years of law study with an organization or law office focusing on fiscal policy, public policy, and government.
• Played a significant role in developing, organizing, and hosting at least one speaker/event dedicated to the subject of fiscal policy.
• Received mentorship from faculty with expertise in the Fellow’s chosen focus area, including course selection, legal residency or research internship placement, and career networking.
• Participated with other Rudman Center Fellows in programming designed to promote justice, leadership, and public service.
Selection Process
The Rudman Center solicits fellowship applicants from the 1L class in late January. Applicants must articulate their interest in fiscal policy and public service, and identify the law and fiscal policy issues that they wish to study more deeply as a Fellow. The Fellow selection committee includes the Rudman Center Director and two reviewers with expertise in fiscal policy, at least one of whom is a lawyer. Selection criteria will include: (1) academic performance in the 1L year; (2) evidence of commitment to public service prior to, or during, law school; and (3) the applicant’s articulation of their interest as noted above.
Rudman-Peterson Fellows
Lyla Boyajian '25
Eva Scheiwe ’24
Christian Merheb ‘23
Shannon Mulholland ’22
Additional Resources
• The Peter G. Peterson Foundation
• The Concord Coalition
Rudman Scholars Program
The Rudman Scholars Program offers two $10,000 scholarships ($5,000 paid out in each of the 2L and 3L years) and guaranteed summer-placement funding to two members of the 1L class who are committed to public interest work after graduation. Applicants must demonstrate, and attest to, an intention to work for a government agency or non-profit that serves vulnerable or underserved populations after their graduation. Applicants must also be willing to serve as student ambassadors for the Rudman Center during their 2L and 3L years.
Applications are available at the end of the spring semester. The endowed scholarship committee, which includes the director of the Rudman Center, will chose the Rudman Scholar recipients.
Rudman Scholars
Tayla George ’23
Alyssa Scott ’23
AhLana Ames '24
Michael Oropollo '24
Endowed Scholarships
UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law offers several endowed scholarships, three of which focus on public interest law or a career in public service, and are described below:
Bruce E. Friedman Scholarship Award
This award was established as a memorial in 1997 to Bruce E. Friedman by the Friedman family with gifts from the family, friends, Franklin Pierce faculty, staff and alumni, and legal and social-welfare colleagues. Professor Friedman founded and directed the law school’s Civil Practice Clinic for many years. The scholarship is awarded to a rising 2L or 3L UNH Franklin Pierce law student who demonstrates a dedicated commitment to social justice and public interest law, preparing for a career that advances social justice through course work combining legal knowledge with practical skills, project development, and exposure to practice models for the delivery of legal services.
Doris Monroe Rapee Memorial Scholarship Award
Established in memory of Doris Monroe Rapee by her family and friends, this scholarship is awarded to a rising 2L or 3L UNH Franklin Pierce law student who intends to pursue a career in public service.
Robert M. Viles Fellowship Fund
This fund was established in honor of former President and long-time Dean of Franklin Pierce Law Center, Robert M. Viles. The fund provides a merit-based scholarship to a full-time first year student at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law. Preference is given to a student pursuing a career in community lawyering with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate work and a score of 154 or higher on the LSAT.
Applications
Applications for these and all of the law school’s endowed student scholarships are available at the end of the spring semester. The selection committee will send an email announcement to all students when applications are open.