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HOPE Fellows Program

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The HOPE Fellows Program allows public interest minded students to create summer dream jobs and work across the globe to effectuate change. The HOPE Public Interest Resource Center provides stipends to law students who work in uncompensated public interest jobs during the summer. HOPE Fellows work with local, national, and international public interest agencies and non-governmental organizations of their choosing.

Program Specifics

All rising Miami Law 2Ls and 3Ls who are in good academic standing are eligible to apply.
Over the course of the summer, Fellows must complete a minimum of 360 hours of work over a period of no less than 9 weeks.
HOPE Fellows have an ongoing reporting and feedback commitment throughout the duration of their placement.
Fellows must submit weekly journals reflecting on their experience and must participate in a weekly review and online discussion of an article identified by the HOPE Staff.
The HOPE Public Interest Resource Center provides $5000 stipends to law students who work in uncompensated public interest jobs during the summer; some students may be eligible for travel assistance based on location and need.
HOPE Fellows are required to discuss their work and experience in an information session on campus in either the fall or spring semester.

To Apply

Applications are available online here. Students must submit a completed fellowship application to the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center by February 15, 2013. Click here for more application specifics.

History of Fellows Program

Since 2000, the Program has evolved from two local placements to twenty plus placements in 2012 in locations such as Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles, as well as international placements in countries such as Tanzania, Lebanon, England, and China.

Read about past HOPE Fellows experiences:

2007 Senior HOPE Fellow Mindy Reinstein

Senior HOPE Fellow Mindy Reinstein has dedicated herself to public service throughout her academic career. As an outstanding volunteer, Mindy became involved in projects focused on children and the homeless. Her leadership as a student led her to become the first-ever Sr. HOPE Fellow. As such, she has developed the Public Interest Lecture Series, bringing lawyers to a round-table discussion with students who have a passion for public interest. In addition, Ms. Reinstein has built the HOPE Day of Service from a program with approximately 75 vounteers to one with a city-wide reach involving 200 incoming law students. Her passion for service has been recognized by her peers and she currently serves as the President of the Society of Bar & Gavel. In addition to her programming leadership, Ms. Reinstein volunteered her time with various community legal services agencies and provided advocacy to individuals with HIV, disabilities and those facing wrongful eviction.