Equal Justice Foundation (EJF) 2008 Summer Funding Application Instructions

EJF 2008 summer funding is available to JD students engaging in law-related work for a public interest organization or governmental entity.  EJF fellowships will be $3,250 for 10 week, full-time internships.  Internships that are a minimum of 5 weeks (but less than 10 weeks) are eligible for pro-rated funding.     

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants must be JD or joint degree candidates with a current status of 1L, 1E, 2E, 2L, or 3E.

• Projects must involve law-related work for a public interest organization or governmental entity, and be either unpaid or draw only a small stipend.  (See Policy on Outside Funding and Other Employment, below.)

• Applicants must be able to complete the EJF volunteer requirements for the Spring Fund Drive and Fall 2008 Auction (see details below).  Students who are off-campus this spring or who will be off-campus during Fall 2008 must contact EJF about alternative volunteer projects.

 

FELLOWSHIP AMOUNTS

• Fellowships may be requested in the following amounts:
  • 5 weeks, full time - $1,625
  • 6 weeks, full time - $1,950
  • 7 weeks, full time - $2,275
  • 8 weeks, full time - $2,600
  • 9 weeks, full time - $2,950
  • 10 weeks, full time - $3,250

• Partial fellowships may be spread out over the course of the summer, provided that Fellows work the same number of hours as if they had worked full-time.  (For example, a 10-week, half-time fellowship is equivalent to a 5 week, full-time fellowship.)
• Fellows do not need to make up hours for employer-observed holidays, such as Memorial Day or July 4th.
• Applicants may seek funding for two partial fellowships up to a maximum of one full fellowship.  Do not submit two application forms; instead, when submitting your final application, circle the total amount requested and include confirmation letters from both employers.
• Some students will receive their fellowships through the Georgetown work-study program rather than in a lump sum.  Decisions about work-study are made on the basis of student eligibility, employer eligibility, and geographic location.  Applicants may not opt out of work-study.  See below for details about applying for summer work-study.  (Note: whether or not you have received financial aid previously does not affect your eligibility for summer work-study.)

RESPONSIBILITIES OF APPLICANTS

All applicants must:

• Attend the EJF mandatory applicant meeting on Thursday, February 28th at 12:15 pm or 8:00 pm.
• Volunteer 3 hours toward the EJF Spring Fund Drive, with at least 2 hours working at the phone bank.  Note: Volunteer obligations are not based on the amount of funding requested.
• File a 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 29th.  All applicants must comply with this requirement, regardless of whether they have received financial aid in the past.  If you have questions or concerns about this requirement, please contact Andrea Tazioli in the Office of Financial Aid at ast5@law.georgetown.edu immediately.  No exceptions will be made to this requirement unless approved by the Office of Financial Aid.
• Submit requisite tax forms to the Payroll Office prior to submitting your final application.  That office will issue you a receipt that you have completed the necessary forms.   Note: If you do not want taxes taken out of your EJF fellowship, you must claim EXEMPT on your tax forms.  Please review your options carefully with the Payroll Office, as you will not be able to request a refund once taxes have been taken out.
• For internships abroad: Complete all relevant forms by April 11th. See below for details.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECIPIENTS

All EJF Fellowship recipients must:

• Volunteer 7 hours toward the Fall 2008 EJF auction, with at least 4 hours spent working at the phone bank.  Note: Volunteer obligations are not based on the amount of funding received.
• Submit a short (4 paragraphs) reflection paper on your summer public interest experience.  Instructions for the reflection paper will be available on the OPICS website in the summer.  The paper is due before classes begin in Fall 2008.
• Participate in a faculty-led group discussion regarding your summer public interest experience.  Discussion groups will be held in Fall 2008.
• Submit a summer evaluation to OPICS before classes begin in Fall 2008.

   

  INTERNSHIPS ABROAD

• All students receiving EJF funding for internships abroad are required to complete certain pre-departure information and carry specific overseas travel insurance for the period of participation.  Please note that there is a fee for the travel insurance (the rate for 2008 will be set later in the semester; the fee for summer 2007 was $70). Forms will be available by early March.  All forms must be completed by April 11th.
• Georgetown University does not affirmatively encourage travel that contravenes Department of State Travel Warnings (click here for complete Georgetown Travel Warning Policy).  As of February 6, 2008, the countries under U.S. State Department Travel Warning are: Colombia; Chad; Eritrea; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Iran; Algeria; Saudi Arabia; Burundi; Côte d'Ivoire; Somalia; Nigeria; Uzbekistan; Sri Lanka; Kenya; Lebanon; Indonesia; Yemen; Nepal; Pakistan; Syria; Timor-Leste; Sudan; Haiti; Central African Republic; Iraq; Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; Philippines; Afghanistan.   All students traveling to one of these countries must follow additional procedures regarding their travels.  Complete instructions regarding these procedures are available in OPICS.  Occasionally, funding may be denied for internships to countries or regions that the Law Center determines are experiencing such instability as to make them too dangerous to support student travel to them.

 

POLICY ON OUTSIDE FUNDING AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT

• Applicants may receive additional funding for their EJF internship from their employers or other non-Georgetown sources up to $2,000 (1E, 1L, 2E) or $3,000 (2L, 3E).  Applicants earning more than these amounts may still apply for funding, but their EJF fellowships will be reduced accordingly.  Applicants are highly encouraged to seek outside sources of funding for their summer work.  View the OPICS Summer Funding Handout for a list of additional summer funding sources.
• Between the last day of the final exam period and the first day of school in the fall, a recipient receiving either a full or partial EJF fellowship may earn income for other employment (e.g., research assistant, waiting tables) up to a maximum of $1,000 per week.  (Please note: This means that students may earn no more than $1,000 in any one week during their summer. Total earnings may not be averaged.)

 

APPLICATION FORMS AND IMPORTANT DEADLINES

• The initial application is due by Friday, February 29th, at 6:00 pm.  This is a mandatory deadline, but a confirmed offer of employment is not required by this date.  You may obtain an initial application form in OPICS or by downloading it here.
• The final application is due by Friday, April 11th, at 6:00 pm.  A confirmed offer of employment is required by this date.  The final application must include: a) Final Application Form; b) Employer Confirmation Letter (see a sample here); and c) Payroll Receipt.  The final application form is available in OPICS and may be downloaded here.   Early submission is strongly encouraged!  Students who know their employment status by February 29th may submit a final application at that time, but should still complete the initial application form.
• Both initial and final applications must be submitted in hard-copy form to OPICS, Room 212, McDonough Hall.  For both initial and final applications, applicants will receive a signed receipt indicating that their application was received and approved by OPICS.  Copies of the receipts are attached to the respective application forms.


Questions, comments and concerns about the above or other aspects of the EJF summer funding process may be addressed to: OPICS at opics@law.georgetown.edu or 202-662-9655; or EJF at ejf@law.georgetown.edu or 202-662-9258.