ABF/University of Chicago Doctoral Fellowship in Law and Social Science Job Chicago area,Illinois USA,Education / Teaching

Applications for the ABF/University of Chicago Doctoral Fellowship in Law & Social Science for the 2027-28 academic year are now open.

Deadline:
March 1, 2027

Purpose

The American Bar Foundation (ABF) and the University of Chicago (UChicago) are committed to developing the next generation of scholars in the field of law and social science. The purpose of this fellowship is to encourage original and significant research on law, legal institutions, the legal profession, and social justice, broadly understood.

Eligibility

Applicants should be outstanding UChicago students who are candidates for a Ph.D. degree in the Social Sciences Division at the University of Chicago. Final selection is made by the American Bar Foundation’s Doctoral Fellowship Committee. Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Applicants must anticipate completing all doctoral requirements except the dissertation by September 1, 2027.

Applicants must expect to receive UChicago funding during the full term of the fellowship.

Applicants must be pursuing doctoral and proposed research in the general area of sociolegal studies or in social scientific approaches to law, legal institutions, the legal profession, or social justice. The research must address significant issues in the field and show promise of a major contribution to social scientific understanding.

While there are no citizenship requirements for this fellowship, please note that we do not have the institutional capacity to sponsor visas, and the ABF is unable to advise on individual visa matters. If you have questions, we encourage you to discuss your circumstances with the international student services office at your institution.

Award

Fellows will receive their annual stipend from UChicago and an additional $3,000 fellowship stipend from the ABF for up to two academic years (24 months). Doctoral fellows will not be employees of the ABF and must retain benefits, health insurance and any other expected funding from UChicago. Fellows will also have access to a $3,500 per year research allowance to reimburse expenses associated with research and travel to academic conferences.

Tenure

Fellowships are awarded for up to 24 months, beginning September 1, 2027.

Conditions

Fellowships are held in residence at the ABF. Appointments to fellowships are full time. Fellows are expected to participate fully in the academic life of the ABF so that they may develop close collegial ties with ABF faculty and other scholars in residence. Because this is a full-time program, the ABF does not allow Fellows to hold concurrent fellowships or teaching commitments, but we support and encourage fellows to apply for supplemental research grants.

ABF​/University of Chicago Doctoral Fellowship in Law and Social Science

ABF/University of Chicago Doctoral Fellowship in Law and Social Science