Military and Veterans Law Fellow

Position Information

The University of North Carolina School of Law is proud to announce a prestigious fellowship opportunity with its new Institute for Military and Veterans Law, beginning in Fall 2026. This program is one of only a handful of opportunities at American law schools for fellowships that focus on the legal issues surrounding servicemembers and their families. Since the foundation of the Military and Veterans Law Clinic in 2018, UNC School of Law has cultivated a reputation for excellence in both military law and law and veterans law. Faculty and students in the Military and Veterans Law Clinic represent low-income former servicemembers who have been wrongfully denied veterans benefits. The Institute for Military and Veterans Law will use the unique data set generated by the Military and Veterans Law Clinic to improve and proliferate the research, scholarship, and educational contributions of UNC School of Law to the military law and veterans law fields.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The University of North Carolina, School of Law aspires to be a great public law school. Toward this end, it pursues a fourfold mission: to prepare outstanding lawyers and leaders for the bar, the bench, all public and private law settings, and public service; to make nationally and internationally significant legal and policy contributions through an ambitious agenda of research and scholarship; to instill lifelong ethical values, dedication to the cause of justice and a lasting commitment to pro bono and public service; and, to serve the legal profession, the people and institutions of North Carolina, the nation and the world.

Position Summary

The Fellow will primarily research the impact of military law, military systems, and the increased understanding of mental health on former servicemembers and veterans. Their interdisciplinary research will generate both scholarship and educational opportunities designed to improve knowledge at the operational, strategic, and policy levels. The Fellow will work under the supervision of Professor John Brooker, Director of the Institute for Military and Veterans Law, as well as Professor Kim Tran, Ph.D., and Professor Tod Leaven, who will serve as Deputy Directors. The Fellow will assist with Military and Veterans Law Clinic cases and may supervise and mentor clinic students. The Fellow will also be expected to teach one substantive course on a topic related to military law, veterans law, public international law, or leadership.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree (or equivalent) from an American Bar Association (ABA) Approved Law School
• Active member in good standing of a State Bar or equivalent licensing authority for the practice of law
• Not subject to a pending administrative or disciplinary action or investigation of any form by a State Bar or equivalent licensing authority or any court

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Four years or more of legal practice as a uniformed or civilian attorney employed within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

Special Physical/Mental Requirements

N/A

Special Instructions

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

Posting Contact Information

Department Contact Name and Title: John Brooker, Wade Edwards Term Professor of Law and Director of the Military and Veterans Law Clinic
Department Contact Telephone or Email: jbrooker@email.unc.edu

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.