The Cohn Summer Fellowship provides summer funding in the amount of $7.000 for two Michigan Law students working in public service within the state of Michigan. This may include internships with state government agencies or nonprofit organizations.

The Cohn Summer Fellowship is made possible by a gift from the Hon. Avern Cohn '49, US District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan.

In creating the fellowship, Judge Cohn sought to encourage Michigan Law students to be of service to the community while they explore career paths that contribute to the public good.

Questions?

About the Fellowship

  • Application

    In order to be considered for the Cohn Summer Fellowship, you must submit your application on Symplicity (search "MLaw Cohn Summer Fellowship") by April 9 at 11:59 p.m.

    Your application must include a copy of your resume and an essay answering the following question (in 500 words or less): Please explain what type of work you hope to do this summer and how it will further your career goals.

    Applicants do not have to have a position secured before applying for the fellowship.

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  • Selection

    A committee of appointed faculty will select applicants based on demonstrated commitment to public service, with preference given to applicants who demonstrate a particular commitment to serving the people of the State of Michigan. 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, which must be approved by the public interest director.
    • Fellows are not eligible to receive the Cohn Fellowship in addition to other Michigan Law sources of funding (e.g., SFF funding, 2L Guarantee Funding, or the Dean's Public Service Fellowship.)
    • Fellows must work full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks for a government agency (federal, state, or local) or nonprofit organization within the state of Michigan. The work performed must be nonpartisan, legal in nature, and supervised by an attorney.
    • Cohn 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.

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