Blackstone Legal Fellowship

Blackstone Legal Fellowship is not a culmination . . . it is a beginning

Blackstone Legal Fellowship is a leadership training program that brings together exceptional Christian law students and prepares them for careers marked by integrity, excellence, and leadership. Since 2000, Alliance Defending Freedom has trained more than 1,800 law students from more than 225 law schools in 21 different countries.

The Fellowship begins with a nine-week summer (June–August) leadership training program, which includes three weeks of seminars on topics such as legal philosophy, constitutional law, practicing with integrity and excellence within the legal profession, and career development and cultural engagement. Interns also spend six weeks engaged in legal internships across the world, working with nonprofits, governmental entities, and boutique law firms, among others.

The nine-week program represents a beginning, not a culmination, as Interns emerge with a professional network, enduring friendships, and a foundation of knowledge that will serve them throughout their careers.  Those selected to become “Fellows” at the end of the summer also receive ongoing training, resources, and support through an international community.

The Program

Phase I:

Interns gather for two weeks of lectures, seminars, and interactive discussions designed to confront conventional wisdom in legal education and present a principled, analytical framework for understanding natural law principles, constitutional interpretation and jurisprudence, and the history of Western civilization. The curriculum also incorporates daily worship and a devotional series focusing on personal and ethical challenges related to the legal practice.

Phase II:

Interns complete a six-week legal internship to advance their career objectives. Interns obtain positions at a wide variety of organizations, including nonprofits, NGOs, governmental entities, and boutique law firms. 

Phase III:

Interns participate in a final week of training focused on career development and cultural engagement. The curriculum is designed to provide practical career advice and help Interns develop a deeper vision of their professional calling. Interns return to law school equipped with deeper knowledge, stronger convictions, and access to a vast professional network that will continue to grow throughout their careers. 

Beyond the Summer

True to its name, Blackstone Legal Fellowship is a Fellowship. Throughout the nine-week program, and extending well beyond its conclusion, Interns participate in a thoughtful community of highly-accomplished Christian law students, developing relationships that will endure for years to come. Fellows—those Interns selected to join the Fellowship at the end of the summer program—also benefit from the alumni network. Through events, additional training, and a variety of networking opportunities, Fellows strengthen relationships with members of their class and also form new connections that will be personally and professionally enriching. Through the summer program, and all that follows, Blackstone Fellows are equipped to effectively engage the legal culture and accelerate their careers in whatever area of law God is calling them.

For all these reasons, Blackstone Legal Fellowship is not a culmination . . . it is a beginning.

Selection to Blackstone Legal Fellowship

Blackstone Legal Fellowship is much more than a summer internship program. It is, in short, a long-term investment in its participants. Accordingly, Blackstone Interns are selected through a rigorous and highly competitive application process specifically designed to build a diverse class with strong leadership potential in all areas of private practice and public service. The selection committee seeks students with outstanding intellectual distinction and Christian commitment who will form a far-reaching network of legal professionals with the character, competence, and credentials to create lasting change in our legal culture.

Learn More

Visit the Blackstone Legal Fellowship website to learn more and apply to this world-class leadership development program. 

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