Answers to Common Questions about the Fellowship

The application and all accompanying materials must be received by the Admissions and Financial Aid Office of the applicant’s law school by the due date set by each school, which is specified on the school website. This date is generally before matriculation in June.

See each school’s website or the contact page.

Yes. You can either submit your letters along with your application or your recommenders can send them directly to the Law School.

Law school admissions applications may be reviewed by the Patiño Committee.
Submitting duplicative materials would not be to your advantage.

Applicants from all personal, educational and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the Fellowship. There are no specific characteristics or experiences required. Instead, the selection committee focuses on whether the applicant lives the motto, “Be a leader of mankind in all that is honorable and compassionate,” and how a candidate’s background exemplifies the selection criteria:

  • Academic achievement
  • Demonstrated leadership
  • Ethical and honorable conduct
  • Good moral character
  • Dedication to humane values
  • Past participation in public service activities
  • Well-adjusted personality
  • Sound judgment

No. Financial need is not a factor in consideration. The financial stipend Fellows receive is independent of any scholarship monies or funds provided by the Law School or other sources.

Up to three new Fellows-Elect are selected from each incoming class at each of the three law schools.

The Fellowship is awarded on a year-by-year basis. Each Fellow must renew his/her status at the end of each academic year. Renewal is awarded based upon the Fellow-Elect’s personal and academic performance and his/her summer work, among other factors. A Fellow-Elect’s summer work should be either in the legal field or in a public service position.

Fellow-Elect refers to current law students. Once a Fellow-Elect has received renewals for his/her second and third year of law school, and has received a Juris Doctor degree, the Fellow-Elect becomes a Tony Patiño Fellow.

There are no requirements regarding Fellows’ career choices. Fellows are expected to apply their legal training to the broader good in whatever career paths they choose. However, given the mission of the Fellowship, many Fellows are in fact involved in public service work during their careers.