The Dr. M. L. "Hank" Henry Jr. Fund for Judicial Fellowships

Proudly Sponsored by MetLife Legal Affairs

The fund has also been supported over the years by generous individual donations

To make a tax-deductible donation today to the Hank Henry Fund, please clisk on the Make a Donation tab below.  A paper pledge form is also available here.

Click here for 2012 Application Information

The Fund was established in memory of Dr. Henry, whose groundbreaking work as the Executive Director of the Fund for Modern Courts was instrumental in ensuring that openly lesbian and gay candidates were considered for appointed judicial positions.

The program, celebrating its fifteenth anniversary in 2011, remains one-of-a-kind by providing fellows the chance to work with and rotate for the 10-week summer among several different judges from varying courts and tribunals. The fellows get a first-hand look at the work of openly gay and lesbian and other judges in federal, criminal and state civil courts, and administrative tribunals, providing an insider's understanding of the judicial system.

Each year, law students from across the country apply for the 1-2 positions available in the program.  Applications are typically invited beginning in late November each year with selections for the summer usually made by early February.

Reflections on the program from recent fellows:

The Hank Henry Fellowship allowed me to observe and interact with very smart and welcoming LGBT and allied judges on an intimate and personal level. Having the ability to experience the judicial system in such a way was invaluable to my career as an attorney and gave me great insight into becoming an effective advocate before the court. I also found that On Campus Interviewers were impressed with the range of experience the fellowship offered me and the research and writing I did provided a high-quality writing sample.

- Jenelle DeVitz, 2011 Hank Henry Fellow
Hofstra, 2013

The Hank Henry Fellowship was the very best experience I could have had my 1L summer. It provided all the benefits of a judicial internship with the one of a kind life experiences that the participating judges were able to share. As a young law student seeing these judges and the work they do has inspired me to pursue a career in the judiciary and none of it world have happened without LeGaL and the Hank Henry Fellowship.

- Colin Hedrick, 2011 Hank Henry Fellow
Brooklyn, 2013

Announcement of 2011 Hank Henry Fellowship Recipients

For additional information, please contact info@le-gal.org.