Named Fellowships

Each summer, the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights selects one or two law students to receive a summer fellowship to work in an organization within Canada that focuses on human rights advocacy. The funding comes from the John and Mary A. Yaremko Programme in Multiculturalism and Human Rights. The endowed fund provides awards for students who demonstrate academic excellence and who are participating in a broad range of community organizations relating to human rights and multiculturalism.

Students have the opportunity to work part of the summer with Blue J, preparing legal work and conducting research projects under the guidance of Blue J’s team. After working in the fast-paced world of legal technology, they will have the chance to take the learnings out into the real world as they develop their own legal tech start-up with the assistance of Blue J’s team and the Future of Law Lab.

Established by the Class of 2000, to be awarded to students in the JD program who take part in a human rights internship, on the basis of financial need.
 

The Debwewin Fellowships were introduced in response to the February 2013, report, First Nations Representation on Ontario Juries by the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, Dean Emeritus. It is a collaboration between The Debwewin First Nation Jury Review Committee, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the University of Toronto. 

There are three (3) summer internship placements for 1L and 2L JD students during the months of May to August (12-14 weeks). These internships support students interested in providing community education and legal assistance support to First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities and community organizations within Ontario. Preference will be given to students who have experience working with Indigenous communities and Indigenous community organizations. The fellowship stipend is worth $12,000 each.
 

Donner Civic Leadership Fund Fellowships are made possible through a generous donation from the Donner Canadian Foundation and administered by our Career Development Office (CDO), have a value of up to $12,000 and are awarded to students who wish to work with public interest organizations during the summer. 

Community-based, non-governmental organizations that have not had fellows in the past couple of years are preferred. The site of fellowships includes postings at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR), the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA),  U of T's Downtown Legal Services (DLS) x Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT), Justice for Children and Youth and Luke's Place.

Named in honour of renowned Faculty of Law alumnus R. Douglas Elliott (LLB 1982), the R. Douglas Elliott Fellowship supports a Faculty of Law student’s work with public interest-oriented LGBTQ+ organizations, or research on antidiscrimination class actions more broadly.
 

This 14-week internship will provide students with real-world legal industry experience and an opportunity to build their resumés and build their professional network. Program participants will gain: Work experience designed to develop problem solving and an exposure to the practice of law. Leadership development and networking opportunities. Co-mentorship between a U of T law student and U of T undergraduate student. Experience researching specific areas of law, reviewing case law and legislation, developing written materials for the legal team, analyzing contracts and policies, working closely with business colleagues.

The Dr. Scott Guan China Law Practice Award, generously supported by alumnus Scott Guan (SJD 2003), is a 3-month internship opportunity in Shanghai, China, providing a JD student with early career experience abroad.

Further details to be posted. 

Established though the generous support of the Hadley Family Foundation to support post-doctoral research in Animal Law for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years.

U of T Law students have the chance to work as a Law Connector with the Hatchery, both during the academic year as part of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Externship and during the summer working in the Hatchery’s NEST program. Law Connectors are embedded on start-up teams to provide legal, project management, issue spotting, administrative support, leadership, and guidance. During their time, Law Connectors will provide insights around problem-solving, strategy, and strategic reasoning while also managing team dynamics and guiding the development of business plans, legal documentation, and pitch presentations.
 

This summer internship position is with the University of Toronto’s Innovation & Partnerships Office (IPO), UTEST and University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (UTE) offices and will be supporting various projects within the Portfolio of the Vice-President Research and Innovation. The intern in this role will work as an essential component of the IPO, UTE and UTEST teams, co-supervised by the Director of University Ventures and the Director of Entrepreneurship. This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn not only how in-house counsel balance legal objectives with organizational goals and values, but also about the specifics of intellectual property protection, disclosure, marketing, licensing and the commercialization process.
 

Named in honour of Canadian journalist, author and social activist, June Callwood, Callwood Fellowships are available to first and second-year Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) JD students at U of T, who wish to work on Indigenous Law issues full-time during the summer with an Indigenous community organization. 

Students can develop a project with any non-profit, First Nation, political/territorial organization, legal clinic, or government agency based in Canada. As a Callwood Fellow, you may conduct public legal education, research pending legislation, legal issues or current policy questions, draft materials clients, or help provide legal information or assistance under the supervision of a lawyer.

Established through a generous gift from alumni Maureen Kempston Darkes (JD 1973, Hon. LLD 1996) and Lawrence Darkes (BA 1970, JD 1973) this summer fellowship is awarded to a JD student with demonstrated financial need, interested in pursuing a summer fellowship placement with the International Human Rights Program or Future of Law Lab.
 

The Lenczner Slaght Advocacy Internship is awarded to a JD student who has completed at least one year of law school. The intern will receive a $10,000 stipend towards their summer placement. Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate an in advocacy and who have financial need or are a first-generation lawyer.

The selected JD intern will work in the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) in Toronto and gain exposure to a variety of interesting matters and projects during the 10-week internship period, including corporate, operational and investment matters. The intern will receive a stipend in the amount of $12,000. The intern will provide a variety of support services to OAC’s Corporate Legal Division, including legal research, drafting, document review, project management, administrative and coordination services.

The high-profile and strictly confidential nature of many activities requires the use of judgement and initiative in order to support and coordinate multiple complex activities on behalf of the division and the business units it supports. As part of the internship experience, the intern will be invited to participate in an orientation session at McCarthy Tétrault and will be assigned a "summer student buddy" from McCarthy Tétrault's team. Additionally, the intern will be invited to join McCarthy Tétrault’s summer students in a number of educational programs.
 

Named after the late Theodore “Ted” Rachlin (JD 1957), Q.C, the Rachlin Fellowships will be awarded to select JD students with their offer of admission, in addition to any eligible financial aid support. 

The $2-million fund has been made possible through gifts from the Rachlin family, the Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman Foundation and matching funds from U of T.

Honouring Kenneth Radnoff, Q.C., a litigator whose lifelong commitment to civil litigation won him the reputation of being a “lawyer’s lawyer.” His pride as an alumnus is shared amongst his three children, who followed in his footsteps to attend the University of Toronto and the Faculty of Law, is steadfast.  

The Radnoff Fellowship impacts the lives of exceptional law students who demonstrate an affinity to civil litigation and advocacy during their academic career.  

The Fellowship is awarded to a first-year JD student pursuing interest in and/or research regarding civil litigation, litigation procedure and/or advocacy before courts and tribunals, in partnership with a faculty member, an in-house clinic or centre, or community partner. 
 

Each year, the Students' Law Society (SLS) sponsors two first or second year law students to gain experience working with a public interest organization. 

Students identify an organization doing work that aligns with their interests and then obtain the organization’s support for a summer project. Pro Bono Students Canada and our Career Development Office (CDO) can help students identify organizations doing work in their areas of interest.