Overview

Launched in 2024, the Anthony Lester Fellowships are designed to assist lawyers and law students in pursuing hands-on fieldwork in human rights and the rule of law beyond their home country. These fellowships provide early-career legal professionals with the chance to contribute to impactful projects that drive practical change, particularly for individuals who might not otherwise have access to such opportunities.

Who Can Apply?

• The Anthony Lester Fellowships welcome applicants from a wide range of geographical regions.
• Eligible candidates include early-career lawyers and law students.
• Projects undertaken must focus on creating tangible outcomes in advancing human rights or the rule of law. These projects should involve hands-on fieldwork rather than purely academic or theoretical research.
• The proposed work should be practical, achievable, and appropriately scaled.
• Additionally, the project must be carried out in a country other than the applicant’s own, providing a distinctive and enriching professional experience.
• Applicants are encouraged to pursue the fellowship at a stage in their career where it can have a meaningful impact on their professional growth.
• Upon completion of the fellowship in the United States, fellows are required to deliver a presentation at Bard College’s campus in New York.
• They will also submit a concise report on their project, which will be published on the Bard College Human Rights Project’s website.

Application Procedure

If you’re an early-career lawyer or law student eager to advance human rights and the rule of law through hands-on fieldwork, the Anthony Lester Fellowships offer a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.

• The fellowships are open to early-career lawyers or law students. 
• There are no geographical restrictions on the fellowships.
• Click the ‘apply now’ button below to go to the official portal.
• Before applying, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and requirements for this law fellowship.
• Two fellowships will be awarded for the year 2025-2026.
• Make sure to apply before the deadline if you wish to be considered for the Lester Fellowships.

What Financial Support is Available?

• Fellows will receive a stipend of $25,000 for a project lasting at least three months. 

Hear from Alumni

Hilina Berhanu Degefa

Hilina Berhanu Degefa has worked on the interlinking of gender and law in various international organizations and think tanks, including the UN office in Vienna and the European Institute of Peace. With an extensive repertoire of the countries she has worked and lived in across Horn and Eastern Africa, as well as Central Europe, her approach to women’s rights work is intersectional and community-oriented. Currently, Degefa is pursuing a postgraduate degree in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. Before that, she earned an LL.M. in Law and Gender from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and an LL.B. from Addis Ababa University’s School of Law.

Other Details

Selection Criteria:

• The project should demonstrate the potential to create a meaningful impact in advancing human rights or the rule of law.
• It must involve hands-on fieldwork, focusing on practical application rather than academic research.
• The project should be feasible, well-organized, and achievable within the given resources and timeframe.
• It must be conducted in a country other than the applicant's own, offering a unique and transformative experience that aligns with a pivotal stage in their career, enhancing professional development.
• Consideration will be given to diversity in geographic locations and the range of subject matter addressed by the projects.

Post-Fellowship Expectations:

Upon completing the fellowship, fellows will be invited to deliver a presentation at Bard College’s campus in New York’s Hudson Valley, with travel and accommodation expenses covered. They will also be required to submit a concise report detailing their project, which will be published on the Human Rights Project’s website. Fellows may choose to publish their report in other venues, provided they acknowledge the support of the Anthony Lester Fellowships at Bard College. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with individuals who collaborated with Anthony Lester through the Odysseus Trust, which contributed to his legislative initiatives.

For More Information

For more information click here.