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The John M. Olin Center

Information for Students Interested in Applying to Be a John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics or a Terence M. Considine Fellow in Law and Economics

  1. Purpose. To foster student research and study in the area of law, economics, and business; and to help create an environment in which students and faculty interested in law, economics, and business will be more likely to work together to their mutual benefit.


  2. Eligibility. Any student enrolled at Harvard Law School, or any PhD at Harvard University who is also pursuing a law degree, has a law degree, or whose focal research interest is in law. Preference will be given to students who have taken, or plan to take, a general course in economic analysis of law.


  3. Fellowship Period. Normally, one academic year. (Successive fellowship years are not ruled out, but reapplication would be necessary). A student graduating in June, however, could be a Fellow for his or her final semester.


  4. Amount of Award. $1,500.00 per semester.


  5. Fellowship Duties.
    1. To make a significant commitment of time and effort to research and writing in the area of law, economics, and business. The writing must be in addition to any work done for credit. Either the Fellow could write a paper separate from any paper written for credit or the Fellow could write a paper intended for credit but more substantial than would be required for credit.

    2. To attend one or both of the law-and-economics seminars; registering for a seminar, however, is not required.

    3. To take Economic Analysis of Law if you haven't already, or to secure permission not to take it.

    4. To attend occasional meetings of the fellows.

    5. To submit at the end of the academic year (by June 15th) either: (1) a paper that satisfies the written work requirement of their fellowship; or (2) a Progress Report explaining what they have accomplished on their paper and when they expect to complete it. A fellow who intends to reapply for a successive fellowship must attach the paper or the Progress Report to his/her new application.


  6. Application to be a Fellow: You must submit as email attachments (in Word, WordPerfect, or PDF):
    1. The Basic Information Application. (Open the document, enter the required information, save the file, then attach to the email). Submitting this application also authorizes the Registrar's Office to provide the Olin Center with copies of your transcripts.

    2. A copy of a transcript of your undergraduate record (and your graduate record if you went to graduate school), plus a transcript of your Harvard Law School record (official transcripts are not required). If you are unable to obtain and scan your transcripts, you can have them sent to Karl Coleman, Harvard Law School, 1563 Massachusetts Avenue, Pound 500, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

    3. A short description of your background and interest in the area of law and economics, as an attachment to the email.

    4. Your curriculum vitae, as an attachment to the email.

    5. A synopsis of the research and writing you attend to accomplish, as an attachment to the email. A detailed proposal would not hurt, nor would attachments of papers previously written in economic analysis of law. But it is certainly realized that a well-qualified applicant might not have either a detailed proposal or some previously written paper in economic analysis of law. The interpretation made of acceptable topics in economic analysis of law will be quite broad.


  7. Submission of Applications and Notification. Applications may be submitted at any time by emailing them to Karl Coleman, Administrative Director of the Program. However, students should make every effort to submit applications by June 15th; students who file an application later than June 15th risk not being considered for a full academic-year fellowship. A committee will decide whether to accept the applications. Notification of committee decisions will be made at least twice a year, normally not later than September (for the full academic year), and the following January (for the spring semester only).


  8. Summer Fellowships. Summer fellowships may be awarded for a minimum of 1 month up to a maximum of 2.5 months during the summer, but tend to be follow-on fellowships; that is, a recipient will most likely have held a fellowship during the previous academic year. In addition, a Fellow would have to be in residence in Cambridge during the summer for an amount of time equal to his/her fellowship support. The amount of a maximum award for 2.5 months is $8,750.00 (prorated at $3,500.00 per month). The deadline for summer fellowships is May 15th, using the same application form as Academic year fellowships. Notification of committee decisions is generally made by June 15th. In the email accompanying your application, be sure to provide:
    1. When (what dates) during the summer you will be in residence in Cambridge to work on your fellowship.

    2. What other responsibilities will you have during the summer (e.g., law firm job, other fellowships, law review work).

    3. A Progress Report that demonstrates excellent progress during the prior fellowship period and indicates a strong likelihood that research results will be published.

A Reminder: All application materials should be emailed as attachments to Karl Coleman (kcoleman@law.harvard.edu). If you do not have access to a scanner to scan your transcripts, those can be mailed to Karl Coleman, Harvard Law School, 1563 Massachusetts Avenue, Pound 500, Cambridge, MA 02138. All other items (application, curriculum vitae, short description of your background/interests, synopsis of your research proposal) must be submitted electronically.