Visiting Scholars Program
Program Overview
The U.S.-Asia Law Institute hosts a small number of outstanding scholars each year. Our visiting scholars include judges, prosecutors, lawyers, legal journalists, and legislators as well as academics. We welcome applicants across legal disciplines. We are expanding our work in international law and encourage applicants in this field who have a focus on Asia.
Visiting scholars are considered guests of the University who may visit for a period of up to one year to engage in research, scholarship, and general scholarly and cultural interaction with New York University Law School’s faculty and students. Visiting scholars are not employees, have no teaching responsibilities, and are not entitled to salary or housing; they may not in any way perform in the role of an employee at New York University. However, they actively contribute to the intellectual life of USALI through their participation in workshops, speaker events, and other activities of a scholarly nature organized by USALI and others at the law school.
“My fellowship at USALI has been one of the most professionally meaningful periods in my career so far. One of the main reasons is the openness and inclusive spirit with which USALI welcomes visiting scholars. From the very beginning, I felt truly supported—both personally and academically.”
Program Components
What’s included?
As a visiting scholar at the NYU School of Law, the U.S.-Asia Law Institute is pleased to provide the following opportunities:
Courtesy title of “visiting scholar” at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute.
Ability to audit NYU Law courses (on a non-credit basis), with the permission of the instructor.
Access to NYU Law Library & Bobst Library (the main university library).
Shared research/study space in Wilf Hall.
Entry to academic and intellectual life at NYU.
What’s not included?
USALI cannot provide or arrange housing. All visiting scholars are required to obtain their own housing for the duration of their visit.
Visiting scholars are not NYU employees and do not receive a salary or stipend.
Visiting scholars are not NYU Law students and do not receive course credits or formal academic supervision.
Visiting scholars are welcome to self-organize reading groups, workshops, and similar activities. USALI staff may be able to provide some logistical assistance (such as reserving a conference room or arranging guest access to the law school building), but we cannot underwrite any costs, such as for food or drink.
Visiting Scholars agree to:
Be in full-time residence at NYU during the agreed visiting scholar term. Visiting scholars may not hold concurrent appointments such as teaching, legal practice, or other fellowships without explicit disclosure and agreement.
Participate in all workshops specifically arranged for the visiting scholars, including those in the fall designed to help new visiting scholars get the most out of their residency and those in the spring at which visiting scholars present their research to the law school.
Frequently participate in other USALI programs such as conferences and speaker events.
Contribute to the intellectual life at USALI. Examples include: scholarly writing, collaborating, translation, presentations, articles, essays, or (upon invitation) guest lecturing at law school classes.
“Scholars, students, and books with diverse backgrounds have ignited my ideas.”
“I visited various off-campus facilities such as courts and law firms, where I conducted quite a few interviews with legal practitioners.””
USALI 2025-2026 visiting scholars with institute faculty.
Qualifications for the Visiting Scholar Program
1. A minimum of an LLM, JD, or other advanced degree, prior to arrival.
2. Submit competitive research proposal (see details in application instructions).
3. Demonstrate appropriate English language proficiency.
4. (For those who are not US citizens or green card holders) Satisfy US government requirements for a J-1 (Exchange Visitor) visa, including maintaining health insurance that meets the minimum federal requirements during the entire length of stay.
5. Show proof of adequate financial resources. Per US government requirement, applicants for J-1 visas must show proof of income or assets amounting to a minimum of $3,000 per month, as well as additional financial support for any accompanying family members ($1,000 per month for spouses and $500 per month for each child). (Amounts are subject to change from year to year.)
* Unfortunately, the U.S.-Asia Law Institute is unable to provide fellowships to fund visiting scholars.
6. Payment of visiting scholar program administrative fees (details below).
“During my research at USALI, I expanded my understanding of the development of legal societies in various countries through interactions with researchers from different countries and regions. Of course, New York’s rich culture provided important experience and social observation in life in addition to academic research.””
Program Fees
The U.S.-Asia Law Institute Visiting Scholars Program charges an administrative fee of $6,500 for one year, reduced to $5,500 for current full-time PhD students or those who have completed an advanced degree as a full-time scholar in the past twelve months. Visiting scholars who stay for six months or less must pay $3,250. Fees may be waived only in very exceptional circumstances.
Process Timeline
Late November: application period opens
January 31: application period closes
February-March: application review and live (online) interviews
March-April: acceptances go out
April-August: intake paperwork including support for US visa applications
Late August: visiting scholars arrive
Final week of August: NYU Law fall semester begins; arrival after the start of the semester is discouraged
Late August or early September: USALI orientation and research plan workshops
Our visiting scholar openings are typically filled in accordance with this calendar. Should space remain available in mid-April, we may at our sole discretion consider late-arriving applications.
The maximum visiting scholar term is 12 months, but many visiting scholars end their residency in May, after the end of the spring academic term.
Application Components
Online application consisting of questionnaire and supporting documents to be uploaded:
Proof of necessary funds
Research proposal
Personal statement
University transcripts
CV/Resume
Two letters of recommendation
One published or unpublished article
Signed fee waiver affidavit, if applicable
“I gained insights into the realities of federal court litigation that are hard to grasp from literature alone, thanks to interactions with faculty members who are sitting judges.””
If you have questions, please email: usali@nyu.edu