Reginald F. Lewis Law Teaching Fellowship

Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship 2027 in the USA

The Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship 2027 is a prestigious one-year fellowship offered by Harvard Law School in the United States. The fellowship is designed for recent law graduates who have demonstrated a strong interest in legal scholarship and are preparing for careers in law teaching.

The selected fellow will spend the fellowship year in residence at Harvard Law School and receive an annual stipend of $60,000. The fellowship provides dedicated time for research and writing, with the fellow expected to prepare at least one major article for publication.

The 2027–2028 fellowship term will run from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028, while the application deadline is October 1, 2026. Both letters of reference must also be submitted by the same deadline.

Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship 2027 Overview

Category	Details
Fellowship Name	Reginald F. Lewis Law Teaching Fellowship
Host Country	United States
Host Institution	Harvard Law School
Fellowship Type	Law Teaching & Research Fellowship
Degree Required	J.D., LL.M. or S.J.D.
Duration	1 Year
Annual Stipend	$60,000
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Start Date	July 1, 2027
End Date	June 30, 2028
Application Deadline	October 1, 2026

The fellowship is specifically intended to support recent law graduates who are preparing for careers in legal academia.

What Does the Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship Cover?

The fellowship provides a $60,000 annual stipend for the one-year fellowship period.

Selected fellows also receive the opportunity to:

• Spend the fellowship year in residence at Harvard Law School
• Focus on legal research and academic writing
• Prepare at least one major article for publication
• Audit courses at Harvard Law School
• Attend academic workshops
• Interact with Harvard Law School faculty and researchers
• Develop their legal scholarship
• Build experience for a future career in law teaching

The official Harvard information confirms the $60,000 stipend and the one-year fellowship term. It does not list separate housing, relocation, or travel allowances, so applicants should not assume these costs are covered.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is intended for recent law graduates who have demonstrated a serious interest in legal scholarship and are preparing for a career in law teaching.

Applicants must have one of the following degrees at the time of application:

• J.D.
• LL.M.
• S.J.D.

In addition to the degree requirement, applicants should demonstrate potential for success as legal scholars and law teachers.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Hold a J.D., LL.M., or S.J.D. degree at the time of application.
• Be a recent law graduate.
• Demonstrate a strong interest in legal scholarship.
• Be preparing for a career in law teaching.
• Be able to undertake the fellowship in residence at Harvard Law School.
• Be prepared to conduct substantial research and academic writing.
• Be able to complete at least one major article during the fellowship.
• Submit a complete application before the deadline.

Harvard does not specify a particular GPA requirement on the fellowship page.

Research and Writing Requirement

Research and academic writing are central to the Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship.

The selected fellow is required to prepare at least one major article for publication during the fellowship year.

The fellow will work according to a research and writing schedule agreed upon with the Lewis Committee. This makes the fellowship particularly suitable for candidates who already have a clear research direction and want dedicated time to develop their scholarly work.

Law Teaching Career Focus

The fellowship is specifically designed for candidates interested in becoming law professors or legal educators.

Applicants are expected to explain their interest in law teaching and identify the areas in which they expect to teach and conduct legal scholarship.

The program therefore suits applicants who want to build an academic career rather than those looking primarily for professional legal practice experience.

Required Documents

Applicants need to submit the following documents:

• Comprehensive résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Research and writing project description
• Statement explaining interest in law teaching and legal scholarship
• Copies of all academic transcripts
• Two letters of reference

The research project description must be no more than four pages, while the statement on law teaching and legal scholarship must also be no more than four pages.

Research Project Description

The research project description is an important component of the application.

Applicants should explain the research and writing project they plan to undertake during the fellowship to produce a publication.

A strong project description should clearly communicate:

• The research topic
• Main research question
• Academic significance
• Proposed argument or approach
• Relevant legal scholarship
• Expected contribution
• Publication potential

The project description must remain within the four-page maximum specified by Harvard Law School.

Statement on Law Teaching and Scholarship

Applicants must submit a separate statement describing their interest in:

• Law teaching
• Legal scholarship
• Academic career development
• Areas of law they expect to teach
• Areas in which they plan to conduct research

This statement allows the selection committee to understand the applicant's long-term academic goals and suitability for a career in legal education.

Letters of Reference

Applicants must submit two letters of reference.

The letters should address the applicant's potential for success as:

• A legal scholar
• A law teacher

Applicants should choose referees who know their academic or research abilities well and can provide detailed recommendations.

An important point is that both reference letters must be submitted by October 1, 2026. Harvard states that only complete applications will be considered.

How to Apply for Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship 2027

Applicants should first confirm that they hold a J.D., LL.M., or S.J.D. degree and are interested in pursuing a career in law teaching.

Next, prepare a focused research and writing project that can realistically be developed into a major publication during the fellowship year. Applicants should also prepare a separate statement explaining their interest in law teaching and the legal fields they plan to teach and research.

After preparing the CV, transcripts, and other required documents, applicants should arrange two strong letters of reference. The complete application and both reference letters must be submitted through Harvard Law School's online application system by October 1, 2026.

Application Process

Check the eligibility: Make sure you have a J.D., LL.M., or S.J.D. degree at the time of application.

Develop your research project: Choose a focused legal research topic that can lead to a substantial publication during the fellowship.

Prepare your law teaching statement: Explain your interest in becoming a law teacher and identify the fields in which you plan to teach and conduct scholarship.

Update your CV: Highlight your academic qualifications, research experience, publications, journal work, and other scholarly achievements.

Arrange two referees: Select individuals who can comment on your potential as a legal scholar and law teacher.

Collect your transcripts: Prepare copies of all required academic transcripts.

Complete the online application: Upload the required documents through Harvard Law School's application system.

Submit before the deadline: Make sure your application and both reference letters are submitted no later than October 1, 2026.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship 2027 is:

October 1, 2026

Both letters of reference must also be submitted by this date. Harvard Law School states that only complete applications will be considered.

Applicants should therefore contact their referees well before the deadline and allow sufficient time for the letters to be uploaded.

Fellowship Duration

The fellowship is a one-year appointment.

The 2027–2028 fellowship term will run from:

July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028

The selected fellow is expected to remain in residence at Harvard Law School during the academic year.

Annual Stipend

The Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship provides an annual stipend of:

$60,000

This stipend is provided for the one-year fellowship appointment.

Applicants should carefully plan their living expenses because Harvard's official fellowship information does not list separate funding for housing, relocation or travel.

Is the Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship Fully Funded?

The fellowship provides a $60,000 annual stipend and a fully supported academic year focused on research and writing.

However, Harvard's official page does not describe separate funding for airfare, accommodation or relocation. Therefore, applicants should avoid assuming that every cost associated with living in the United States is separately covered.

The major confirmed financial benefit is the $60,000 annual stipend.

Academic Benefits

The fellowship offers several valuable academic opportunities.

Selected fellows can:

• Conduct independent legal research
• Prepare major scholarly work
• Work toward publication
• Audit Harvard Law School courses
• Attend academic workshops
• Interact with legal scholars
• Develop an academic research profile
• Gain experience relevant to law teaching
• Become affiliated with Harvard Law School during the fellowship year

These opportunities can help recent law graduates prepare for careers in legal academia.

Why Apply for the Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship?

The fellowship can be an excellent opportunity for law graduates who want to enter the academic profession.

Key advantages include:

• $60,000 annual stipend
• One-year research fellowship
• Residence at Harvard Law School
• Dedicated time for scholarly writing
• Opportunity to publish a major article
• Ability to audit Harvard Law School courses
• Access to academic workshops
• Opportunity to develop legal scholarship
• Preparation for a law teaching career
• International academic exposure

The program's specific focus on law teaching makes it particularly relevant to aspiring legal academics.

About Reginald F. Lewis

The fellowship was established through a gift from Reginald F. Lewis and his wife, Loida Nicolas-Lewis.

Reginald F. Lewis was a Harvard Law School graduate from the class of 1968 and became the founding CEO of TLC Beatrice Foods International. His contribution to Harvard Law School helped establish the fellowship in his name.

The fellowship was created to support the development of future law teachers and contribute to diversity within the legal education profession.

Important Points for Applicants

Applicants should carefully note that this fellowship is not a degree programme. It is a one-year research and writing fellowship for a recent law graduate.

The applicant must already hold a J.D., LL.M., or S.J.D. at the time of application.

Another important requirement is the submission of both recommendation letters by the application deadline. A late recommendation can make the application incomplete, and Harvard states that only complete applications will be considered.

Applicants should also remember that the fellowship requires residence at Harvard Law School during the academic year, so candidates should consider relocation and living costs when planning for the fellowship.

Final Thoughts

The Reginald F. Lewis Law Teaching Fellowship is a valuable opportunity for recent law graduates who want to build careers in legal academia.

The fellowship provides a $60,000 annual stipend and a full year at Harvard Law School dedicated primarily to legal research and scholarly writing. Fellows can also audit courses and attend workshops while developing their academic profile.

Applicants should prepare a strong research project, a clear statement about their law teaching ambitions, academic transcripts, CV, and two detailed recommendation letters.

The application deadline is October 1, 2026, and both reference letters must arrive by the same date. Candidates interested in becoming law teachers should begin preparing their application materials well in advance. Apply Now