Notre Dame Fellowship Available for the Class of 2026

International students and young African lawyers now have an extraordinary opportunity to advance their careers in constitutional and human rights law. The Notre Dame Fellowship at the University of Notre Dame Law School is officially open for the 2026–2027 academic year, with applications being accepted worldwide.

About the Fellowship

The Notre Dame Fellowship was launched in 2024 and finalized in 2025 to strengthen ties between the University of Notre Dame and the Constitutional Court of South Africa, celebrating three decades of democracy in South Africa.

This fellowship is designed for early-career African lawyers who have clerked at the Constitutional Court of South Africa or the Supreme Court of Appeal, or who are engaged in civil society organizations focusing on constitutional and human rights law. Fellows will pursue a one-year Master of Laws (LLM) or an LLM in International Human Rights Law, gaining expertise and global exposure that will enable them to make an even greater impact in their fields.

Fellowship Benefits

The fellowship provides comprehensive support to ensure that the recipient can focus entirely on their academic and professional development. Benefits include:

• Full tuition waiver at Notre Dame Law School.
• Coverage of travel expenses.
• Living expenses provided at the prevailing Notre Dame cost of attendance.
• Access to world-class academic and professional networks in human rights and constitutional law.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be nationals of South Africa or another African country and should demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights and constitutional law. Eligible candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

• Clerked at the Constitutional Court of South Africa or the Supreme Court of Appeal; or
• Worked with a civil society law organization focusing on constitutional and human rights law.

Additional preference will be given to applicants who:

• Do not hold an LLM degree.
• Have not studied abroad.
• Are no older than 35 years of age at the start of the fellowship.
• Have clerked at one of South Africa’s top courts within the past five (05) years.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted here (https://www.concourttrust.org.za/news/entry/fellowship-at-notre-dame-law-school-call-for-applications-2026-2027-academi) no later than Sunday, 5 October 2025.

Required documents include:

• A motivational letter (1–2 pages).
• A curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages).
• University transcripts for all higher education qualifications.
• One written work sample (2,000–3,000 words; contextual extracts are acceptable).
• Two letters of support from referees. If a current Constitutional Court Justice is listed as a referee, only the judge’s name is required.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg in late October 2025.

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