Robert T. Matsui Fellowships
Through a grant from the Robert T. Matsui Foundation, Pacific McGeorge is able to offer up to three stipends to J.D. students for public interest or U.S. government work as summer or semester externs in Washington, D.C.
Purpose of the Program:
The Robert T. Matsui Foundation's purpose is to promote, support, and encourage early career opportunities in public service for law students. The Foundation seeks to serve, in collaboration with Pacific McGeorge, this goal with respect to both prospective Fellowship winners and others in the law school community whom the program would touch. The Foundation also seeks to support the Fellowship winners as well as other students who may summer in Washington DC, friends of the winners who learn about a summer experience, alumni in Washington DC and/or interested in the area, and friends of the Pacific McGeorge campus. The Foundation seeks to impact a generation of leaders now and in the future. To that end, the Fellowship is only one aspect of the collaborative project between the Foundation and Pacific McGeorge. Other activities that Pacific McGeorge will fund include: A Pacific McGeorge-sponsored "Welcome Reception" in Washington DC, invitations to include the Fellow, the placement organization's personnel, alumni in the area, and Foundation stakeholders, as well as other organizations and parties in the area interested in the project; and a Pacific McGeorge alumni host to help integrate the Fellow into and with other organizations and events in the area.
Fellowship Criteria:
The Fellowship provides a stipend to allow law students to pursue proposed public service projects or placements in U.S. government opportunities in Washington, D.C. Applicants do not have to have a secured placement for to apply for a Fellowship. Ideas and prospective placements will be accepted. The Pacific McGeorge, Career Development Office and others are willing to help secure final placements prior to final selection.
Applicants will be selected in a two-step process. First, on March 12, applicants should apply and indicate a secured placement, or a placement concept, as well as how their project or placement will promote, support, and encourage their early career plans and opportunities for work within the public service sector. Applicants also should indicate the extent of the commitment they will make to the proposed project; i.e., how many hours per week they will work; whether they will be paid or receive academic credit for their work; feasibility of and need for the work to be performed; and the impact or benefit the work will have. After the initial gathering of all applications on March 12, those applicants without a secured placement can seek support from the Career Development Office and other faculty to help secure a placement.
Second, on March 28, to be eligible for consideration for the Matsui fellowship, all applicants must have a secured placement in Washington, D.C. The final selection for the Matsui Fellowships will be made from this pool.
Eligibility:
Fellowships will be awarded to students who will complete their first or second years of law school and the project or placement by May of 2009. The recipient must be a person who has an exemplary character and excellent judgment; has the dedication and ability to be a professional and community leader; believes that a lawyer has a primary responsibility to serve the broader public interest; and has demonstrated a proven commitment to serving the public good.
While financial need may be a positive factor in the selection of Fellowship recipients, it will not be a primary factor. Race, religion, and gender will not be factors in the selection.