The Bobbe and Jonathan Bridge Child Welfare Summer Fellowship (Bridge Summer Fellowship) provides up to $7,000 in summer funding to up to three Michigan law students pursuing careers in child welfare law. Preference will be given to 2L students who are interested in practicing law in the state of Washington.
Application
In order to be considered for the Bridge Summer Fellowship for summer 2025, you must submit your application via Symplicity by April 13, 2025, at 11:59pm.
Please explain what type of work you hope to do this summer and how it will further your career goals. Applicants do not need to have a position secured before applying for the Fellowship.
Selection
A faculty committee will select fellows based on demonstrated commitment to public service, with preference given to applicants who demonstrate a particular commitment to child welfare work. The committee will consider factors such as your past experiences (academic, volunteer, and professional), your career goals, and how the work you propose to do this summer will further those goals.
Limitations
Fellows must obtain a qualified placement by May 31.
Fellows are not eligible to receive the Bridge Summer Fellowship in addition to other Michigan Law sources of funding (e.g., SFF funding, 2L Guarantee Funding, etc.)
Fellows must work full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks at their internship. The work performed must be nonpartisan, legal in nature, and supervised by an attorney.
The Bridge Summer Fellowship funding may be considered taxable income even if a W-2 is not issued. This should not be construed as tax advice, however, and we encourage you to consult with a tax advisor for more information.
Peer Counseling
At the conclusion of the summer, the fellow must submit a summary for the Public Service Network that includes the contact information of the organization for which the fellow worked, a description of the duties performed, and an evaluation of the job experience. The fellow is also expected to provide a thank you and meet with the donor, if requested.
Questions
If you have any questions about the Bridge Summer Fellowship, please email Public Interest Director Emily Bretz at [email protected].