Fund Details
Heyman Federal Public Service Fellowship Program - Yale Law School
Competition Type
Yale

Brief Description:

The Heyman Fellowship supports YLS graduates who wish to work closely with high-level leaders in the federal government for one year, either through an existing position or through a “special assistantship.” The fellowship allows alumni to explore careers in public service and to bring creative, entrepreneurial ideas to the federal government. Positions that will not be considered include judicial clerkships, entry-level positions, and work for political campaigns. Appropriate positions include high-level substantive work within the White House executive offices, an agency, a commission, or a legislative committee. Available to YLS students and alumni up to three years post-graduation. For guidance on Heyman Fellowship host organization letters, click here.

These are one-year fellowships, unless otherwise specifically noted, and students must commit to the work for a full year. Projects are hard to complete even in a year and the amount of time you can devote to the project would lessen the impact of the fellowship on the community you intend to serve and deprive you of valuable experience. If you are unable to do so because you have a clerkship that starts early, you should consider starting your fellowship earlier or postponing your application until after your clerkship.  

For the 2025-2026 application cycle only, applications for the Heyman Fellowship will have a deadline of April 18, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. Applicants will need to provide appropriate information about the complications they had in getting commitments by the original deadline.

Description:

For the 2025-2026 application cycle only, applications for the Heyman Fellowship will have a deadline of April 18, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. Applicants will need to provide appropriate information about the complications they had in getting commitments by the original deadline.

Yale Law School has a longstanding commitment to public service, including service in the federal government. Through the generosity of Sam and Ronnie Heyman, the Law School created the Heyman Federal Public Service Fellowship Program in 2005. These one-year fellowships allow recent YLS graduates to work closely with high-level leaders in the U.S. federal government, often through a "special assistant" type position. Appropriate positions include high-level, substantive work with a sponsoring agency, office or committee. The goal of the fellowship is to inspire a new generation to serve by allowing YLS alumni to explore careers in public service and to bring creative, entrepreneurial ideas to the federal government.

These are one-year fellowships, unless otherwise specifically noted, and students must commit to the work for a full year. Projects are hard to complete even in a year and the amount of time you can devote to the project would lessen the impact of the fellowship on the community you intend to serve and deprive you of valuable experience. If you are unable to do so because you have a clerkship that starts early, you should consider starting your fellowship earlier or postponing your application until after your clerkship.


Fellowship Criteria


Generally, three to four Heyman Fellowships are awarded each year for fellows to work in the executive branch or the legislative branch of the United States federal government. Awards are made based on a variety of factors, including the degree to which the fellowship will give the applicant exposure to significant policy and rulemaking, the opportunity to focus on important substantive issues, and the chance to acquire the skills and credentials to start a public service career as well as a showing of how the applicant's experience fits the proposed fellowship position, the clarity of the proposed responsibilities, and the quality of the supervision expected. Judicial clerkships, entry-level positions, and work for political campaigns are not eligible.


Special Considerations

IPA Requirements

Most government agencies require YLS to enter into an IPA agreement, whereby the University employees the fellow directly. Under the IPA arrangement, the fellow works at YLS for the first three months of the fellowship and is seconded to the government for the remaining nine months. To date, the legislature and White House Executive Offices have not required IPAs. These IPA agreements are sometimes difficult to arrange and can interfere with or slow down the agency's ability to accept the fellow. lf you plan to submit a fellowship application for such a host agency, you should first consult with Norma D'Apolito, to discuss the IPA process.


Loan Forgiveness

Heyman Fellows whose government offices do not require YLS to enter into an IPA agreement are not considered employees of Yale University or Yale Law School. In this situation, the stipend will be paid directly to the fellow and a 1099-MISC will be issued to the fellow. Fellows receiving a 1099-MISC do not count as employed by Yale or by the government and, therefore, may be considered ineligible for loan forgiveness for the fellowship year. We suggest that you consult with the loan forgiveness office to determine your eligibility.


Background Checks

As with any federal employment, Heyman fellows are required to complete a background check or security clearance, the extent of which can vary depending on the level of security required for the job. For more information about background checks, click here.


YLS Non-Discrimination Policy

Your host organization must certify compliance with Yale Law School's Non­ Discrimination Policy. For instructions on confirming organization compliance, please click here.

Meeting with Fellowship Director

Heyman applicants are required to meet with the Public lnterest and Fellowship Director, Norma D'Apolito, to discuss the scope and details of their fellowship proposals in advance of the submission to allow for revisions. lf you have any questions about the Heyman Fellowship, contact her at norma.dapolito@yale.edu or you can set up a time to meet here.


Stipend

Fellows will receive a stipend of $55,000 (for fellowships starting on or after July 1, 2024). Federal offices are not generally in a position to accept the stipend and put fellows on their payrolls so, except for those fellows that YLS hires pursuant to an IPA, fellows generally receive their stipend directly. In those instances, and additional stipend of up to $5,000 is available to purchase medical insurance.


Application Information:

For the 2025-2026 application cycle only, applications for the Heyman Fellowship will have a deadline of March 19, 2025 at 11:59pm ET

Heyman applicants are required to meet with the Public Interest Director, Norma D’Apolito, to discuss the scope and details of their fellowship proposals in advance of the submission to allow for revisions. If you have any questions about the Heyman Fellowship, contact her at norma.dapolito@yale.edu. 

All applications will require the following information:

1. Personal statement (500 words maximum) describing the applicant’s experiences with and commitment to public interest, public service, or a specific area of law and the ways in which the fellowship will help achieve the applicant’s career aspirations.

2. Concise summary (1 paragraph) of the proposal that includes the place in which the applicant will work and the goals of the project the applicant will undertake.

3. Proposal (1500 words maximum)
Depending on the office for which you are applying, you may seek funding for either a staff position or a specific project.

Staff positions: The proposal should address: the nature of the fellowship position and the organization that will host the fellow; type of work the applicant expects to do in the fellowship position, including any particular project the applicant intends to carry out; and a discussion of any relevant background information – legal, historical, factual – necessary to understanding the need for and the goals of the fellowship position, as well as any challenges that you anticipate.

Project proposal: The proposal should address: 1) the problem or need that the project seeks to address; 2) the project's specific goals and how the applicant will meet those goals within the one-year fellowship period (a proposed timetable should be included); 3) a discussion of any relevant background information – legal, historical, factual – necessary to understanding the need for and the goals of your project, as well as any challenges that you anticipate.

Please note that the proposal, whether for a project or a staff position, should not be an essay akin to a substantial or supervised analytic writing, nor is mastery of the area of law expected. Rather, the goal is to explain how you hope to use or change the relevant law or otherwise contribute to the workings of the government and the well-being of its citizens.

4. Statement of other fellowships or public interest positions to which to applicant has applied or plans to apply and, if none, an explanation (for example, a gap year, unusual geographic or project-specific need, and so on). Applying for external funding is not a requirement for receiving a YLS-funded fellowship, but is strongly encouraged, absent extenuating circumstances.

5. A resume.

6. Official YLS Transcript.

7. Two letters of recommendation: One from YLS faculty and one from a supervisor or employer.

8. RECOMMENDED: An additional letter of recommendation from YLS faculty.

9. List of people, including current or former fellows, whom the applicant consulted. 

10.Host letter, detailing: 1) organization's purpose and function; 2) a description of how the fellow’s proposed work fits with the host organization’s activities; 3) a description of the supervision the fellow will receive, including identification of the fellow’s immediate supervisor; 4) the resources that will be provided to support the project (e.g., office space, computer, malpractice and/or other insurance, if needed); and 5) a statement addressing the potential for the organization to retain the fellow as a full-time member of the organization’s staff beyond the fellowship year. NOTE: Post-fellowship retention is not a requirement.


Special Eligibility Requirements:

Proposals to work in the executive branch of the United States may be subject to additional requirements. If you plan to submit a fellowship application for an executive branch placement, you must first consult with a program administrator about the special requirements that may apply.

Most government agencies require YLS to enter into an IPA agreement, whereby the University employees the fellow directly. Under the IPA arrangement, the fellow works at YLS for the first three months of the fellowship and is seconded to the government for the remaining nine months. To date, the legislature and White House Executive Offices have not required IPAs. These IPA agreements are sometimes difficult to arrange and can interfere with or slow down the agency’s ability to accept the fellow. If you plan to submit a fellowship application for such a host agency, you should first consult with Norma D'Apolito, to discuss the IPA process.

Restrictions to Use of Award:

Can only be used to work within the U.S. federal government.

The federal government gives strong priority to hiring U.S. citizens and nationals although agencies may hire noncitizens under some very limited circumstances.




Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact Mary Korey at mary.korey@yale.edu

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