The Fund for American Studies
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Professional Development & Networking

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Students enjoy a private briefing at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Council with TFAS alumnus Bryan Wood '06, PPF '10.

As part of the TFAS Summer Law Fellowship professional development program, you will attend private briefings with members of the judicial, legislative and executive branches, and meet with prominent judges, lawyers and judicial scholars that will help you develop a strong professional network and advance you in your legal career.

Professional Development

Law Fellowship Capitol tour
Law Fellows look out over the National Mall from the House Speaker’s balcony in the U.S. Capitol building.

Tours, briefings and meetings with members of such institutions as:

  • Senate Judiciary Committee
  • The Pentagon
  • United States Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

As well as recruiters and practitioners within various practice areas including:

James Buckley has lunch with the law fellows.
  • Appellate law
  • Campaign finance and election law
  • Immigration law
  • Intellectual property law
  • International law
  • Department of Justice
  • Commercial litigation
  • Public interest law
  • Army JAG Corps
  • Judicial Clerkships
  • First Amendment law

The TFAS Law Fellowship exceeded my expectations by providing me with an unforgettable experience. My favorite part of the program was the many events and opportunities to meet such influential people in the legal profession. I sincerely appreciated how the speakers were all varied and brought something of unique value to our learning experience.”
– Alexandra Illijevski, Law ’19
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Intern, Caterpillar, Inc.

Attorney Mentor Program

Professional development lecture with TFAS alumni.
Fellowship Board of Visitors member Ilya Shapiro of the Manhattan Institute (left), and Frank Garrison, Law ’14, of the Pacific Legal Foundation (right) have served as attorney mentors to Summer Law Fellows. Garrison was introduced to Shapiro as a TFAS Summer Law Fellow and says the connections TFAS provided helped him “jump forward” in his career.

One of the most valuable aspects of the TFAS Summer Law Fellowship professional development component is the Attorney Mentor Program through which Fellows are paired with an experienced lawyer who will serve as a professional mentor throughout the summer and beyond. Mentors can available to provide career advice and networking contacts as well as tips for living in D.C. and recommendations for the best spots in the city for food and entertainment activities. Mentor matches are made based on a Fellow’s career goals, professional interests and other factors such as law school or hometown.

My whole path changed when I came to D.C. for a summer with TFAS. That’s what you can look forward to if you put in the work and seek out the opportunities afforded to you by this program.” – Frank Garrison, Law ’14