“I was struck by the diversity of my work assignments, which were as varied as the stories of refugees themselves. The asylum applicants whose cases I worked on came from Iran, Pakistan and Palestine, and are fleeing distinct forms of hardship: gender-based violence, political intimidation, and terrorist recruitment. Each case allowed me a window into a new part of the world, a new problem, and a very difficult story.”

­– Noopur Sen ‘22, joint degree student,
HLS and Harvard Kennedy School

Noopur spent her 1L summer as a Chayes International Public Service Fellow, working with the Asylum Protection Centre, an NGO based in Serbia. This year, she was one of 24 Chayes Fellows who worked with organizations based in 12 countries, on issues ranging from biosurveillance and other aspects of AI, to sustainable international trade after the pandemic to protecting the rights of asylum seekers, whistleblowers, and indigenous peoples in countries around the world.

Want to learn more? Join us on Tuesday, November 17 at 12 p.m. for International Public Service against the Backdrop of a Global Pandemic, a discussion with 2020 Chayes Fellows Maria Smith ’22 (Digital Freedom Fund), Gina Starfield ’22 (Al Otro Lado), and Kimberly Everett ’22 (Clooney Foundation for Justice: TrialWatch), moderated by Sarah Deibler, S.J.D candidate (and 2017 Chayes Fellow). Please register with your Harvard email address to access the Zoom link.

Whether you have a firm idea of the career you plan to pursue, or you’re just beginning to explore new possibilities, the Chayes Fellowship can allow you to spend next summer working with a governmental or non-governmental organization concerned with issues of an international scope or relevant to countries in transition. It’s an excellent opportunity for 1Ls interested in international public service.

Chayes Fellows conduct substantive legal work- which can include research, drafting reports and memos, providing direct services to clients, and collaborating closely with supervising attorneys in their placement organizations. They also receive advice and support from the Chayes Program staff, HLS reference librarians, and others, prior to and during their summer placements.

How does it work? Visit the Chayes Fellowship web pages for more information about seeking a placement and applying for the Fellowship, as well as evaluations from past Chayes Fellows and more.