Georgetown University USA LAWA Fellowships for Africans Committed to Women's Rights

LAWA Fellowship Program

Course(s) Offered: Women's human rights
Course Level: Graduate (masters, training, fellowships)
Provider: Georgetown University Law Center
Country to Study in: USA

Scholarship Description
The Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) Fellowship Program was founded in 1993 at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., in order to train women's human rights lawyers from Africa who are committed to returning home to their countries in order to advance the status of women and girls in their own countries throughout their careers.

Throughout their time in Washington, D.C., the LAWA Fellows also participate in bi-weekly seminars and professional development training with their American counterparts in the Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program, where they discuss key women's rights issues with prominent government and public interest leaders.

They attend related events, such as Supreme Court and Congressional Briefings on significant women's rights issues. The relationships that the LAWA attorneys build with their American contacts and government leaders, together with their legal training and enhanced computer research and technology skills, provide the ability to draw upon vastly expanded legal networks and resources upon their return to Africa.

Eligibility
Qualification requirements include:

• Must be a women’s human rights lawyer from Africa. Men who are committed to women’s human rights are encouraged to apply.
• 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 in their counties throughout their careers.
• Candidates who are awarded a LAWA Fellowship must be prepared to cover the costs of all additional expenses (such as visas, travel, housing, utilities, food, clothing, health insurance, books, fees, etc.), and must be able to demonstrate to the U.S. Embassy for visa purposes that they have the full amount of funds available to cover these expenses (totaling over U.S. $26,690) at the time of their visa application.

Eligible countries
Any country in Africa.

Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe have participated in the LAWA Program, and we hope to include Fellows from additional countries in the future.

Participating Institution(s)
Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC; USA

Fields of study
The LAWA Program starts in July, when the Fellows attend the Georgetown Law Center's Foundations of American Law and Legal Education course.

From August through May, the LAWA Fellows earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at Georgetown with an emphasis on international women's human rights and complete a major graduate research on a significant women's rights issue in their home countries.

After graduation, the LAWA Fellows then have an opportunity to engage in challenging work assignments for three months (June through August) at various public interest organizations to learn about different advocacy strategies to advance women's human rights, before returning home to continue advancing women's human rights in their own countries.

Sponsorship duration
The entire LAWA Fellowship Program is approximately 14 months long (from July of the first year through August of the following year), after which the LAWA Fellows return home to continue advocating for women's rights in their own countries.

Number of Awards
Not specified. Over 80 women's human rights advocates have participated in the past.

Scholarship benefits
The LAWA Program helps defray the costs for women's rights attorneys from Africa who would not otherwise be able to afford a Master of Laws degree focusing on international women's human rights and the additional leadership training.

The LAWA Fellowship provides the tuition for the Foundations of American Law and Legal Education Course (a U.S. $2,200 benefit) and for the LL.M. degree (a U.S. $46,865 benefit) at the Georgetown University Law Center, as well as professional development training.

Candidates who are admitted to the LAWA Program must be prepared to cover the costs of all additional expenses (such as their visas, travel, housing, utilities, food, clothing, health insurance, books, etc.), and must be able to demonstrate to the U.S. Embassy for visa purposes that they have the funds available to cover those expenses (approximately $28,000).

Due to the intensity of the LAWA Program and academic studies, LAWA Fellows are not permitted to work throughout the academic portion of the program. They must also affirm that they will return home after the LAWA Fellowship and continue to promote women's human rights in their countries throughout their careers.

Method of Application
To apply for a Fellowship position, please submit a completed LAWA application form (available here) to morrisjc@georgetown.edu before the indicated deadline date below. Ensure that all required documentation (Current Resume, 2 Letters of Recommendation, Official Law School Transcript) are also scanned and submitted in time. Letters of recommendation may be scanned and sent as email attachments (preferred) or mailed separately. Please review the LAWA Program FAQs for additional information regarding the application process and requirements.

It is important to visit the official website (link to it is below) for complete information on how to apply for this fellowship position.

DEADLINES:
The application for the 2018-2019 Fellowship Year has started and due by Friday, January 12, 2018

PLEASE NOTE:
Due to the intensity of the LAWA Program and academic studies, LAWA Fellows are not permitted to work throughout the academic portion of the program.

Application Deadline: 12 January 2018
Open for International Students: No (ONLY Africans)

More Scholarship Information and Application

Related: Law and Legal Scholarships for Applicants