Think of a LEGIS Fellowship as the gold standard for Capitol Hill experience.
During the program, you spend months working with legislators and their staffs, participating in committee hearings, briefing members of Congress, drafting legislation, and serving as a constituent liaison. Fellows receive unparalleled support from WashU at Brookings‘s associate dean.
You also connect with key decision makers and power brokers, learn about policy development, and join a national network of policy entrepreneurs. On the other side of the equation, you become an indispensable subject-matter expert for legislators. Your perspectives on critical issues provide insights that congressional staffers, as generalists, may not be able to supply.
As a LEGIS fellow, you engage in the legislative process from the inside. Consequently, you gain an understanding of the strengths and limits of Congress and the impact of politics and procedure on policymaking. You also experience a quantum leap in networking, with access to legislators, congressional staff members, lobbyists and citizens from across the country.
Former Rep. Bob Carr (D-MI)
For more than 25 years, the program has attracted professionals from government agencies, businesses and the nonprofit sector. The program begins with an in-depth, eight-day orientation that explains legislative mechanics. It also includes a job fair that helps you select your Capitol Hill assignment.
The cross-pollination of knowledge is an extremely beneficial part of your fellowship. You dive deeply into specific areas of interest and receive an invaluable education. At the same time, you mentor young staff members, which is a tremendous help to short-staffed, underbudgeted congressional offices that don’t have the funds for senior-level employees.
Former Rep. Charles Boustany Jr. (R-LA)
Past Fellows Assignments
| Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) | Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) |
| Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) | Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) |
| Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) | Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) |
| Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) | Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) |
| Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) | Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) |
| Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) | Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) |
| Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) | |
| Senate Homeland Security Committee | House Appropriations Committee |
| Senate Finance Committee | Senate Budget Committee |
Program Benefits
- Insider’s knowledge of the legislative process
- Exceptional networking opportunities with senior-level federal officials
- Lasting relationships with members of Congress and congressional staff
- Enhanced agency engagements with Congress
- Strong alumni network
- Community of policy entrepreneurs
- Former Fellows qualify for 25% off all future executive education courses from WashU at Brookings and our partner WashU Olin Business School. Discounted seats are limited and subject to availability. To receive your discount, e-mail the course you would like to take to [email protected].
2025 Fellowship Term
You can spend seven or 12 months on Capitol Hill, depending on your professional interests, agency objectives and agency workload.
Orientation
Dates:
- Live Virtual Kickoff: December 4, 2024
- In-Person Orientation: January 2-13, 2025
Seven-month Fellowship
Dates:
- January 2-July 25, 2025*
Tuition:
- $4,650
Full-year Fellowship
Dates:
- January 2-December 12, 2025*
Tuition:
- $6,250
Note: You can apply class credit from Inside Congress and Insider’s Legislative and Regulatory Process to the Certificate in Policy Strategy.
*End dates based on projected Congressional Calendar. Dates may change slightly.
For more information on the program, contact Associate Dean Ian Dubin at
[email protected]
or 202-797-6319.
Eligibility and Application
The LEGIS Fellowship program is competitive. To be eligible for the program, you must have at least a GS-13 grade level. (Private-sector candidates should have a minimum of seven years of management experience.) You also must have a significant interest in legislative policy and be able to work independently.
- Early Admission Deadline: September 6, 2024
- Application Deadline: October 25, 2024
Application Checklist
Before you submit your application, check to make sure it contains all of the following:
- An up-to-date, detailed resume
- An assessment or recommendation from your supervisor that addresses your potential and what you would bring to the fellowship
- A statement describing how the fellowship fits your career goals and the value it would create for your agency
- A completed, approved and signed training form (SF182, DD1556, or HHS350) that includes a valid billing address and purchase-order number (government candidates)
- Complete tuition billing information (private-sector candidates)
- Note that you should submit your application using a permanent personal email address you will have access to beyond being selected to participate in the Fellowship, since you will likely not have access to your primary employer’s email during your time as a Fellow.