The application deadline has been extended for the 2027–2028 Dale and James J. Pinto (L’76) Fellowship, an opportunity for Georgetown University Law Center graduates interested in international human rights advocacy and litigation.
Facilitated by the Human Rights Institute at Georgetown Law in partnership with the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, the year-long fellowship provides a pathway for a Georgetown Law graduate to gain professional experience with one of Washington, D.C.’s prominent human rights organizations.
Applications for the 2027–2028 fellowship are now due by 11:59 p.m. on November 1, 2026.
About the Dale and James J. Pinto Fellowship
The Dale and James J. Pinto (L’76) Fellowship is a specialized human rights fellowship designed for graduates of the Georgetown University Law Center J.D. program.
The fellowship is facilitated by the Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute (HRI) and supported through the generosity of Dale and James Pinto. Its purpose is to create a pathway for Georgetown Law students and graduates who are committed to international human rights work to gain substantial professional experience in a highly competitive field.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, the selected fellow will join the International Advocacy and Litigation team at the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center for a full year.
The position provides an opportunity to work within an organization focused on international human rights advocacy while developing practical experience relevant to a long-term career in the field.
Fellowship Host Organization
The fellowship is hosted by the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, a human rights organization based in Washington, D.C.
The Kennedy Human Rights Center works in the international human rights field, making the fellowship particularly relevant to law graduates who want to build careers involving human rights advocacy, international law, litigation, and the protection of internationally recognized human rights norms.
The successful fellow will work as part of the organization’s International Advocacy & Litigation team.
This makes the opportunity particularly relevant for candidates interested in understanding how legal advocacy, litigation, research, and international human rights standards can be used to address human rights concerns.
What Does the Fellowship Offer?
The 2027–2028 Pinto Fellowship is structured as a year-long professional fellowship.
Rather than being a short-term program or conference, the fellowship provides an extended period of professional engagement with a leading human rights organization.
The fellowship is intended to provide Georgetown Law graduates with a pathway into the competitive international human rights sector.
During the fellowship year, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to work within the International Advocacy and Litigation team and gain exposure to professional human rights advocacy.
The experience can be particularly relevant to individuals seeking careers involving:
- International human rights law
- Human rights advocacy
- International advocacy
- Human rights litigation
- Legal research
- International legal norms
- Human rights protection
- Public interest law
- International justice
- Legal and policy advocacy
Who Is the Fellowship Designed For?
The 2027–2028 fellowship is specifically designed for a 2027 Georgetown Law J.D. graduate.
The announcement identifies Georgetown Law’s J.D. program as a central eligibility requirement. Therefore, this is not a general fellowship open to all law students or law graduates worldwide.
Candidates should also have either experience or a demonstrated interest in advancing and upholding international human rights norms.
In addition, applicants should demonstrate a commitment to developing a career in the international human rights field.
Key Eligibility Considerations
Prospective applicants should pay particular attention to the fellowship’s specific academic requirement.
The opportunity is intended for:
- Georgetown University Law Center J.D. students graduating in 2027.
- Candidates with experience or a strong interest in international human rights.
- Candidates interested in international advocacy and litigation.
- Individuals committed to pursuing a career in human rights.
- Applicants who are able to participate in the fellowship for the full year-long fellowship period.
The information provided for the fellowship does not state a particular nationality, race, ethnicity, or continental origin requirement.
However, the specific Georgetown Law J.D. graduation requirement substantially narrows the eligible applicant pool.
International Human Rights Experience and Interest
Applicants should demonstrate an interest in the advancement and protection of international human rights norms.
This could be reflected through academic work, legal experience, internships, research, advocacy, clinical work, public interest activities, or other professional experiences connected to human rights.
The fellowship is particularly relevant to candidates who see international human rights not simply as an academic subject but as a potential long-term professional field.
An applicant’s background in areas such as international law, human rights law, humanitarian law, public interest law, international justice, advocacy, or litigation may therefore be relevant to the overall application.
International Advocacy and Litigation Team
One of the defining features of the fellowship is placement with the International Advocacy & Litigation team.
This provides an indication of the professional environment in which the successful fellow will work.
International human rights advocacy can involve activities such as legal research, preparation of advocacy materials, analysis of international human rights standards, engagement with institutions, documentation, and strategic legal advocacy.
Litigation-related work can involve legal analysis and support for cases or legal strategies designed to advance human rights protections.
The exact responsibilities of the fellow should be confirmed through the official fellowship application and position description.
Why the Fellowship Matters for Human Rights Careers
International human rights is a highly competitive professional field requiring a combination of legal knowledge, research skills, advocacy experience, and practical understanding of international human rights mechanisms.
A year-long fellowship can provide an opportunity for a new law graduate to move from academic training into professional human rights practice.
The Pinto Fellowship was established specifically to help create a pathway for Georgetown students into this competitive field.
Through the fellowship, a successful candidate can gain exposure to the day-to-day work of an established human rights organization while working alongside professionals involved in international advocacy and litigation.
History of the Pinto Fellowship
The Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute maintains a record of current and former Dale and James J. Pinto Fellows.
The fellowship has supported Georgetown Law graduates across multiple academic years.
Listed fellows include:
- Caitlin Leung — 2026–2027
- Danielle McClain — 2025–2026
- Will Rowe — 2025–2026
- Medha Raman — 2024–2025
- Bassel Jamali — 2024–2025
- Nina Moraitou-Politzi — 2023–2024
- Sarah Morsheimer — 2022–2023
- Jessica Doumit — 2021–2022
- Rachel Finn — 2020–2021
- Amanda Strayer — 2019–2020
- Naomi Glassman-Majara — 2018–2019
- Caitlin Callahan — 2017–2018
- William Juhn — 2016–2017
- Mai El-Sadany — 2015–2016
This history demonstrates that the fellowship has been offered across multiple years as part of Georgetown Law’s human rights career-development ecosystem.
Information Session
Georgetown Law’s Human Rights Institute is also offering an information session for prospective applicants to the 2027–2028 fellowship.
The information session provides an opportunity for interested Georgetown Law students to learn more about the fellowship and the application process.
Prospective applicants should use the official Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute information-session registration page for the latest details.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the 2027–2028 Dale and James J. Pinto Fellowship has been extended.
New deadline: November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their applications. Because the fellowship is highly specialized and requires candidates to demonstrate relevant experience or interest in international human rights, applicants should allow sufficient time to prepare their materials carefully.
How to Apply
Eligible Georgetown Law students can access the fellowship application through Georgetown University’s student career platform.
The official Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute page provides the application information for the 2027–2028 Dale and James J. Pinto (L’76) Fellowship on the International Advocacy and Litigation team.
Applicants should carefully review the official application requirements before submitting their materials.
They should also verify the deadline and any additional instructions provided through the Georgetown Law application system.
Important Note for International Applicants
Although the fellowship concerns international human rights, prospective applicants should understand that this particular opportunity is not advertised as a general international fellowship open to law graduates from every country.
The stated eligibility requirement is tied to graduation from the Georgetown University Law Center J.D. program in 2027.
Therefore, someone studying law at another university in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, or another region should not assume that they are eligible simply because they have an interest in international human rights.
Likewise, the announcement does not identify a particular race, ethnicity, nationality, or continent as a qualifying factor. The central eligibility criterion provided is the Georgetown Law J.D. requirement.
Other Opportunities at the Human Rights Institute
The Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute also facilitates other opportunities connected to the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center.
These include Summer Associate positions.
The Human Rights Institute explains that the Summer Associate initiative was established to provide paid summer internships with the Kennedy Human Rights Center for qualifying J.D. students who successfully apply through a competitive process.
Prospective students should check the Human Rights Institute’s careers page for information about future summer opportunities.
What Makes This Fellowship Different From a Scholarship?
The Pinto Fellowship should not be confused with a conventional academic scholarship.
A scholarship generally provides financial assistance toward education, while this opportunity is structured as a full-year professional fellowship with a human rights organization.
The fellowship is intended to provide professional experience and a pathway into the international human rights field.
Applicants should therefore approach the opportunity as a professional career-development opportunity rather than simply as funding for university studies.
Who Should Consider Applying?
The opportunity may be particularly relevant to a Georgetown Law J.D. student who is preparing for a career in:
- International human rights law
- International advocacy
- Human rights litigation
- Public interest law
- International justice
- Legal research
- Human rights policy
- International legal advocacy
- Human rights organizations
- Rule-of-law and justice initiatives
Candidates should be able to demonstrate why international human rights is an important part of their professional trajectory and how their previous academic or professional experiences have prepared them for the fellowship.
REGISTER FOR INFORMATION SESSION On Dale and James J. Pinto Fellowship 2027–2028
Application Preparation
Because the fellowship is focused on international human rights advocacy and litigation, prospective applicants should carefully present the experiences that demonstrate their preparation for this field.
Applicants may wish to clearly communicate:
- Their Georgetown Law academic background.
- Their expected 2027 J.D. graduation.
- Their experience with international human rights or related areas.
- Their legal research and writing experience.
- Their interest in advocacy and litigation.
- Relevant internships, clinics, research projects, or professional positions.
- Their long-term interest in a career in international human rights.
- Their ability to contribute to the work of the International Advocacy & Litigation team.
The strongest application materials should make a clear connection between the applicant’s past experiences, the work of the Kennedy Human Rights Center, and the applicant’s future professional goals.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON Dale and James J. Pinto Fellowship 2027–2028
Important Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | Dale and James J. Pinto (L’76) Fellowship |
| Period | 2027–2028 |
| Host organization | Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center |
| Institution facilitating the fellowship | Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute |
| Team | International Advocacy & Litigation |
| Duration | One year |
| Primary applicant group | Georgetown Law J.D. students graduating in 2027 |
| Field | International human rights |
| Career focus | Human rights advocacy and litigation |
| Deadline | November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. |
| Location referenced | Washington, D.C. |
| Nationality restriction stated? | None stated |
| Race/ethnicity restriction stated? | None stated |
Final Takeaway
The 2027–2028 Dale and James J. Pinto Fellowship offers a year-long professional opportunity for a Georgetown University Law Center J.D. graduate who is committed to international human rights work.
The fellowship places the selected candidate with the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center’s International Advocacy & Litigation team, providing an opportunity to gain practical experience in a field that combines legal practice, advocacy, research, and international human rights.
The opportunity is particularly specialized because eligibility is tied to the Georgetown Law J.D. program and the 2027 graduating class. Applicants should also demonstrate experience or a strong interest in advancing and upholding international human rights norms and a clear commitment to pursuing a career in the field.
For eligible Georgetown Law students, the most important immediate consideration is the November 1, 2026 deadline at 11:59 p.m. Prospective applicants should review the official fellowship information and application system carefully and submit all required materials before the deadline.
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