Higher Education Law Fellowship
The fellowship program is open to third-year law students and recent law school graduates and grants extraordinary access into the legal life of the University of Kansas and its Office of the General Counsel.
Sponsored by Chancellor Doug Girod in collaboration with the University of Kansas’ Office of the General Counsel, the Higher Education Law Fellowship has been established to support and promote career advancement to those interested in legal issues facing Higher Education, including but not limited to health care, employment law, contract review and drafting, regulatory and compliance issues and tort litigation.
Being awarded a fellowship position with the University of Kansas’ Office of the General Counsel can enrich a promising career path in higher education law. It is a mark of distinction, paving the way to a wide range of opportunities for a higher education lawyer.
The KU Office of the General Counsel manages the legal affairs of all University of Kansas campuses, including the University of Kansas Medical Center, and the University’s controlled affiliates, including Kansas Athletics, Inc. Office of the General Counsel attorneys represent the University of Kansas in a broad range of legal issues including internal and external investigations, labor and employment, contracts, claims and litigation, regulatory compliance matters, faculty appointments and grievance processes, student conduct issues, and clinical research and health law matters.
The Higher Education Law Fellowship provides a unique and unparalleled opportunity for the beginning attorney to work closely with the General Counsel attorneys to gain the resources and mentorship necessary to prepare them for a successful career in higher education law.
The law fellow assumes responsibility for a diverse range of legal matters, conducts important legal research and engages directly with senior administration and faculty members. The law fellow is directly involved in most areas of the legal department’s work in representing the University of Kansas in state and federal litigation and in proceedings before state and federal administrative agencies. The fellow participates in investigations, conducts legal research, drafts pleadings, motions and other litigation-related documents, interviews witnesses, prepares for depositions, appears at conferences and University hearings, argues motions and provides strategic advice. Supervising attorneys work closely alongside the law fellow pending admission to the Kansas bar, and beyond, to guide the experience and provide valuable feedback and support.
Timeline for the 2022-2023 Higher Education Law Fellowship
- August 2021: Applications accepted through the Work at KU web portal.
- September 2021: Letters of recommendation for pending fellowship applicants may be directly submitted to Human Resources through employ@ku.edu.
- October 2021: Fellowship finalists are notified.
- June 2022: Fellowship term commences.
The Higher Education Law Fellowship is a two-year position, commencing in June. The fellow position includes a salary of $55,000 and offers a wide variety of comprehensive and competitive benefits, including a health benefit package, a generous leave and holiday schedule, paid conferences and professional development opportunities, travel allowances and office space to work within the Office of the General Counsel. To further explore available benefits, please visit https://employment.ku.edu/. No relocation allowance is offered. The law fellow is dually located between our main campus in Lawrence, Kansas and our medical center campus in Kansas City, Kansas.
The successful fellowship candidate has a J.D. from an accredited American law school and membership in the Kansas bar or pending application for admission within 12 months of hire. Selected fellow(s) are supported throughout the bar examination process. The successful fellow has excellent oral and written communication skills and strong academic credentials as verified by an academic transcript (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better). Successful candidates have competencies in demonstrating initiative, leadership and motivation toward career goals, and a strong work ethic in order to lead towards the goal of becoming an outstanding attorney in higher education. Questions may be directed to the Office of the General Counsel at gencoun@ku.edu or 785.864.3276.