Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Opportunity

The American Bar Foundation (ABF) is accepting applications for the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), an eight-week program that offers hands‑on experience and exposure to socio‑legal research. We are particularly impressed by students who demonstrate strong intellectual curiosity and take initiative with mentors by asking questions and actively engaging in the research process. This fellowship is intended for students with a keen interest in pursuing postgraduate research and demonstrated motivation to pursue a PhD or research‑focused joint JD/PhD in the social sciences.

Preference will be given to candidates from groups that are underrepresented in the fields of law and social science, including but not limited to first‑generation and low‑income students.

This fellowship introduces undergraduate students to the inner workings of a research‑oriented career in law and social science, while providing insight into the practical intersections between legal scholarship and careers in the legal profession. Each Fellow will be matched with an ABF Research Professor who will serve as their mentor. Fellows may either contribute to their mentor’s research projects or pursue their own research, depending on discussions with their mentor and the mentor’s capacity.

In previous years, fellows have contributed to faculty research by conducting archival research, preparing literature reviews, and coding qualitative data. Conversely, mentors have also provided valuable support for Fellows working on thesis, capstone, or independent research. In addition to working with their mentor, Fellows will engage with other ABF faculty, staff, and affiliates. The program will culminate in a final research presentation to the greater ABF research community, showcasing the work conducted throughout the summer.

Fellows also participate in a weekly seminar led by an ABF Research Professor, where they engage critically with socio‑legal scholarship through discussions and occasional guest speakers who contribute to the seminar’s themes. These seminars are complemented by information sessions with legal professionals and scholars, providing Fellows with insights into the various facets of socio‑legal research and the legal system, while also offering valuable networking opportunities.

Past Fellows have toured the offices of major international law firms, met with admissions representatives from local law schools, met with legal clinics, and connected with nonprofits such as the Uptown People’s Law Center.

All Fellows will participate in the program 35 hours a week in our Chicago, IL, office on a hybrid schedule (most days working in the office with some off‑site and remote days) from June 8th through July 31st and receive a gross stipend of $6,000. The ABF will pay for reasonable out‑of‑state travel and local commuting expenses related to the program.

To be considered for acceptance into SURF, you must:

• Be currently enrolled at an accredited college or university in the United States;
• Have completed at least two years of your undergraduate study by the time the fellowship begins;
• Not have earned a bachelor’s degree by the time the fellowship begins;
• Demonstrate research interests that align with the work conducted at the American Bar Foundation;
• Have a strong interest in pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) or a research‑focused joint JD/PhD in the social sciences.
  Please note that this program is not intended for those planning to pursue professional degrees such as an MBA, JD, or MD.

All qualified candidates who are authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship are encouraged to apply. Please note that the ABF is unable to sponsor employment visas for participation in the program.

Completed applications must be received by January 16, 2026
, at 11:59 PM CT
. Due to the large volume of applications, late applications cannot be reviewed. A select number of candidates will be invited to interview over Zoom in late February or early March 2026. Final decisions are expected to be announced in March 2026.

Candidates must apply via the application…