The Leadership & Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) Fellowship Program at Georgetown University Law Center, USA, is a fully funded 14-month program that trains African women’s human rights lawyers committed to advancing the status of women and girls in their home countries. The program includes the Foundations of American Law, an LL.M. degree with an emphasis on international women’s human rights, professional development seminars, thesis research, and networking opportunities.
LAWA Fellows gain world-class legal training, mentorship, and access to a network of human rights professionals, preparing them to drive impactful change in Africa after completion.
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Benefits of the Fellowship
The LAWA Program helps defray the costs for candidates who would not otherwise be able to afford an LL.M. degree and additional professional development training.
- The LAWA Fellowship provides the tuition for the mandatory summer courses (a U.S. $5,000 benefit) and for the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the Georgetown University Law Center (a U.S. $86,294 benefit).
- On-campus housing is provided for the first three weeks of the summer program (a U.S. $1,500 benefit).
- Books and health insurance are also covered by the program for the duration (a U.S. $6,098).
- Fellows are also reimbursed up to $600 for miscellaneous medical expenses.
Name of Organizer
Georgetown University
Requirements/ Eligibility Criteria
Candidates are encouraged to apply for individual funding or seek support from their employers. The LAWA Program cannot assist with these efforts.
- You must be a human rights lawyer focusing on women’s rights to be considered. You must hold an LL.B. or other law degree. A preference is given to candidates who:
- a. are currently living and working in Africa, and
- b. do not already have a Master’s Degree.
- The strongest applicants tend to be about five to ten years out of law school, but those with less or more experience will be considered. Candidates with no work experience applying directly from an LL.B. degree or other law school will not be considered.
- All people committed to women’s rights are strongly encouraged to apply, regardless of gender identity.
- As a requirement of participation in the LAWA Program, all applicants must commit to return home to their own countries upon completion of the Fellowship, and to use their best professional efforts to advance women’s human rights throughout their careers.
- ou must have strong English language skills, both written and oral. Language problems have been the primary barrier to success for LAWA Fellows.
- The LAWA Program requires candidates to become proficient in using computers for drafting papers and conducting research. Candidates are strongly encouraged to learn basic computer skills before arrival to make this transition easier. At the very minimum, candidates should work to improve their typing speed.
- Candidates must be prepared to enter a very demanding course of study. LAWA Fellows take one required course and several more elective courses over the two academic semesters. Each class requires reading hundreds of pages in preparation.
Fellows are required to produce a thesis of publishable quality totaling no fewer than 40 pages. This entails multiple drafts with intense research, writing, and editing. Successful completion of the program requires exceptional focus and painstaking work. Please do not apply if you are not prepared at this time to make a serious academic commitment.
Deadline
16th January,2025.
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