The Fund for American Studies
The Fund for American Studies

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Summer Law Fellowship

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The TFAS Summer Law Fellows Class of 2021 in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Applications Open – Apply by Feb. 23

The TFAS Summer Law Fellowship in Washington, D.C., is an intensive nine-week program that aims to prepare law students to defend the values and ideals of a free society rooted in individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise and constitutional originalism.

Through this immersive academic and professional experience, participants will engage in legal internships, academic coursework, networking events and career development sessions, as well as a law and public policy lecture series with leading constitutional scholars, judges and practicing attorneys.

Applications are now closed for the 2023 TFAS Summer Law Fellowship.

The TFAS Summer Law Fellowship in Washington, D.C., is an intensive nine-week program that aims to prepare law students to defend the values and ideals of a free society rooted in individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise and constitutional originalism.

Through this immersive academic and professional experience, participants will engage in legal internships, academic coursework, networking events and career development sessions, as well as a law and public policy lecture series with leading constitutional scholars, judges and practicing attorneys.

Those selected to participate in the Fellowship program will receive a full scholarship covering tuition, housing and program fees. Awards are highly selective – only 25 students are selected to participate each year.

Click here to see the 2022 Law Fellows.

Program Format

Judge Douglas Ginsburg U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, courtroom with summer law fellowship
Judge Douglas Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, speaks to Law Fellows in the courtroom.

The Fellowship consists of the following major components:

  • Two credit hours of coursework on Constitutional Originalism and Law & Economics through the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University
  • Guest lectures and panel discussions on salient issues in law and policy
  • Thoughts from the Bench discussion series with prominent federal judges
  • Site briefings at key legal institutions and courts
  • Professional development seminars and networking events to enhance your career prospects and help you graduate practice-ready
  • Attorney Mentor Program designed to help students navigate the Washington legal community during and after the program
  • Legal internships with private law firms, lobbying firms, public interest legal organizations and legal departments of trade associations, corporations and government agencies throughout the Washington, D.C., area. (Fellows are encouraged to find their own legal internship, but TFAS staff is available to assist those not able to secure a position on their own)

2023 Program Important Dates

Application Deadline: February 23, 2023

Selection Notification Deadline: March 3, 2023

Enrollment Deadline: March 10, 2023

Program Dates: May 28 – July 28, 2023

2022 Program Important Dates

Application Deadline: Feb. 25, 2022

Notification Deadline: March 4, 2022

Enrollment Deadline: March 11, 2022

Program Dates: May 26 – July 29, 2022

TFAS Summer Law Fellowship Capitol Tour
Law Fellows enjoy a tour of the U.S. Capitol building.

Application and Admissions

Applications for the 2023 TFAS Summer Law Fellowship are now open. The deadline to apply is February 23, 2023. Selected fellows will be notified via email on March 3, 2023. Click here to apply.

Please see the Admissions tab to the right for more information on application requirements, instructions, and policies.

Applications for the 2023 TFAS Summer Law Fellowship are now closed. Please check back later for the 2024 program application information.

Questions

Questions about the Summer Law Fellowship may be directed to TFAS staff at legal@TFAS.org.

The TFAS law program was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to experience the exciting and high-stakes world of Washington, D.C., while also studying core issues of constitutional interpretation and the intersection between law and economics. The classroom experience is top-notch and allowed me to explore subjects that are not taught at my law school.” – Andrew Watkins, Law ’17
University of Kentucky College of Law
Intern, Office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell