The program and how to apply
About the program
The fellowship program is administered through the Law School's Office of International Programs. Students selected for the fellowship receive full funding in support of an international internship (in-person or remote) with a program partner. Depending on the partner requirements, the internship period is six, eight, 10 or 12 weeks. Fellows must participate in pre-departure and re-entry orientation sessions, submit weekly reports throughout the interrnship period, and complete a final project upon conclusion of the summer program.
Stewart Fellows are expected to do their jobs professionally and well, learn as much as possible about the law and culture in the country of placement, and serve as excellent ambassadors for Indiana University Maurer School of Law and the Stewart Fellows Overseas Internship Program, both while abroad and upon return to the Law School.
How to apply
Interested students should contact Ms. Lucero Guillen Puon (maguille@iu.edu), Stewart Center coordinator, for more information or to make an appointment in person or via Zoom.
Applications require a cover letter, résumé, and one law school reference (not the applicant's LRW professor). Be sure that the résumé includes your IU email address and local contact information. The cover letter must:
- Explain why you are interested in being a Stewart Fellow, what you hope to gain from the experience, and why you are interested in and qualified for the placement.
- State your level of fluency in any languages other than your native language. Please refer to the levels of fluency as described by the Interagency Language Roundtable, or ILR (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale), for guidance in describing your proficiency.
- List any study or travel abroad experience you have had (e.g., semester abroad, Universidad de San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador, Spring 2020; summer abroad, volunteer with Raleigh International in Tanzania, May-July 2020).
The 2024-25 timeline
December 23-January 10: Application collection (submit résumé and cover letter and one Law School reference through CareerNet)
Week of January 13: Review application materials & set up interviews
Week of January 20: Begin interviews
Week of February 3: Begin selection of finalists & forwarding resumes to employers for consideration
By March 14: Make contingency offers
Along with semester- and academic-year exchange programs and other academic partnerships, the Stewart Fellows Overseas Internship Program is part of the Law School’s wealth of international programs. During the spring semester, all Stewart Fellows will participate in pre-departure orientation with other students going abroad for exchange programs. Additionally, travel planning begins as soon as finalists are confirmed.
Qualifications and requirements
- 1L or 2L (rising 2L or 3L in Summer 2024)
- Successful applicants are hard-working, self-motivated, flexible and adaptable, adventurous, and willing to embrace challenges as opportunities
- Argentina: professional, near-native or native fluency in Spanish required (see ILR scale, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale)
- Brazil: working proficiency in Portuguese is a bonus, or professional, near-native, or native fluency in Spanish and willingness to learn Portuguese is helpful (see ILR scale, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale)
- China and Vietnam: preference given to students with interest and/or background in intellectual property, as well as demonstrated interest in the region or country of placement
- Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam: 1Ls and 2Ls are encouraged to apply, with preference given to 2Ls who have a strong interest in the partner’s practice areas
- Mexico: professional, near-native, or native fluency in Spanish required (see ILR scale, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale)