The Volokh Conspiracy

Mostly law professors | Sometimes contrarian | Often libertarian | Always independent

Stanford Law School Constitutional Law Center Research Fellowship

An excellent opportunity for would-be legal academics; applications are due September 15.

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The Goal:
This fellowship is intended for individuals who are seeking an academic career working on constitutional law. Affiliates of the Center have gone on to obtain desirable academic positions at numerous law schools including Georgetown, Chicago, UCLA, George Washington, Texas, Notre Dame, Hastings, Penn State, Georgia, and Richmond, among others.

The Fellowship:
The Constitutional Law Center Fellowship is a residential fellowship that provides an opportunity to conduct research in the dynamic environment of Stanford Law School. The fellowship is for one year with the possibility of extending to a second year. The fellowship is designed to allow participants to complete a significant body of independent scholarship. We expect fellows to dedicate most of their time to pursuing their proposed research projects, while dedicating a small amount of time to attending Center activities, including our annual conference, our monthly speaker series, and paper workshops. Fellows may also occasionally be called on to help coordinate Center activities in cooperation with the Center's executive director.

Fellows are encouraged to become part of a lively law-school-wide community of individuals with an interest in legal academia by attending weekly faculty lunch seminars and participating in activities with the other fellows at Stanford Law School. We will provide fellows with work space, a competitive salary, and a generous benefits package. Fellows will report to the executive director of the Constitutional Law Center.

Applicants should have a JD or doctoral level degree (PhD) in a relevant area. Successful applicants typically also have experience in a federal appellate clerkship, and a demonstrated aptitude for original research in constitutional law, typically in the form of past publications or student notes.

The Center:
The Constitutional Law Center, directed by Michael W. McConnell, grows out of the long and distinguished tradition of constitutional law scholarship at Stanford Law School. The Center has no politics and takes no sides on controversial cases—but it is committed to the rule of law and the idea that the Constitution can be studied and interpreted objectively in light of its text, history, and purposes. It advances this mission through events and activities that foster scholarship, generate public discussion, and provide opportunities for students and scholars to engage in analysis of the Constitution across the ideological spectrum.

The Application Process:
Applicants should submit a CV with contact information for three references, a writing sample, and a research proposal (2000 words or fewer) to the Stanford Career website: https://careersearch.stanford.edu/.

Application Deadline: September 15, 2021 at 5:00 PM Pacific time. We will choose the fellow based on demonstrated academic merit and potential, and on the intellectual strength of their research proposals.