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For over 25 years, the LEGIS Fellows program has attracted professionals from government, business, and nonprofits.

Spend months working with legislators, participate in committee hearings, briefing members of Congress, drafting legislation, and serving as a constituent liaison with unparalleled support from WashU at Brookings.

This fellowship is highly selective, welcoming seasoned managers passionate about legislative policy.

Discover What Sets Us Apart

Make an impact on Capitol Hill as a LEGIS Fellow

Our Fellows

  • Connect with key decisionmakers and power brokers,
  • Learn about policy development,
  • Join a national network of policy entrepreneurs, and
  • Become an indispensable resource for legislators, offering critical subject-matter expertise that generalist congressional staffers may lack.

Benefits

  • Unparalleled preparation and support

    • Gain concrete working-knowledge of the legislative process in an in-depth orientation.
    • Select the best legislative placement with guidance including resume review and job fair.
    • Connect with your cohort and WashU at Brookings staff monthly.

  • Develop an insider’s knowledge of the legislative process

    • Spend months working with legislators, participating in committee hearings, briefing Congress members, drafting legislation, and serving as a constituent liaison.
    • Enhanced Congressional relationships which are vital to large organizations and contractors.

  • Build lasting connections

    • Enjoy exceptional networking with senior-level federal officials.
    • Forge enduring relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, and NGOs.
    • Cultivate a community of policy entrepreneurs and alumni network.

  • Lifelong learning

As a LEGIS Fellow you become a critical part of the legislative team. You gain an insider’s perspective, leaning about the inner workings of Congress with a front row seat. The connections you make will serve you for years to come.

 Former Rep. Earl Blumenauer (R-OR)

See Where Some Fellows Have Served

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) House Appropriations Committee

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)

 Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) Senate Budget Committee

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN)

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

Senate Finance Committee

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)

 Senate Homeland Security Committee
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)

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)

Plan for a 2026 Fellowship

Schedule

Spend seven or 12 months on Capitol Hill depending on your personal interests, and your organization’s objectives and workload

Seven-month

January 5-July 31, 2026
Tuition: $4,650

Full-year

January 5-December 18, 2026
Tuition: $6,250

Listed end dates are based on the projected Congressional calendar and may vary slightly.

Application Deadlines

Early Admission: September 5, 2025
Final Deadline: October 24, 2025

Orientation

Mandatory for all fellows

Virtual Kickoff: December 3, 2025
In-Person: January 5-13, 2026  

The LEGIS Fellowship program is highly selective

Requirements

  • Significant interest in legislative policy

    • Submit a personal statement describing how the fellowship fits your career goals and benefits your organization.

  • Minimum of 7 years management experience

    • Ability to work independently.
    • Federal employees must have a minimum GS-13 or equivalent.

  • Employer funding support

    • Letter of recommendation and assessment from your supervisor.
    • Tuition Funding
      • Private sector candidates must provide full billing information (such as a purchase order).
      • Government candidates must submit an approved training form with billing instructions and a purchase order number (such as a SF-182, DD1556, or HHS350; please review our sample SF-182).

  • Some government agencies have an internal selection process

    • Department of Defense
      • Eligible personnel must apply in April to an annual annual DoD call for Legislative Fellow nominees. Only Legislative Fellowship nominees who are approved in writing by the USD(P&R) are authorized to apply to the Brookings Institution’s Legislative Fellowship.  Please refer to DoDI 1322.06 for full details.

Application Process

Apply online using a personal (non-work) email address you can access throughout the fellowship and beyond.

Review the Application Checklist

The following documents must be uploaded:

  • Personal statement
  • Detailed, up-to-date resume
  • Letter of recommendation from your supervisor
  • Proof of funding approval

Apply now

  • Footnotes
    1. Listed end dates are based on the projected Congressional calendar and may vary slightly.
    2. Listed end dates are based on the projected Congressional calendar and may vary slightly.