LEGIS Congressional Fellowship
Think of a LEGIS Fellowship as the gold standard for Capitol Hill experience.
A former member of Congress and WashU at Brookings’s associate dean oversee the fellowship. 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.
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.
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.
“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), senior program adviser, executive in residence, WashU at Brookings
“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), executive in residence, WashU at Brookings
Past Fellows Assignments
| Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) | Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) |
| Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) | Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) |
| Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) | Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) |
| Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) | Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) |
| Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) | Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) |
| Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) | Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) |
| Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) | House Appropriations Committee |
| Senate Homeland Security Committee | Senate Budget Committee |
| Senate Finance 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
Fellowship Term
You can spend seven or 12 months on Capitol Hill, depending on your professional interests, agency objectives and agency workload.
Orientation
Dates:
- Kickoff: Nov. 30, 2022
Orientation: Jan. 3-11, 2023
Seven-month Fellowship
Dates:
- Jan. 3-Jul. 28, 2023*
Tuition:
- $4,525
Full-year Fellowship
Dates:
- Jan. 3-Dec. 15, 2023*
Tuition:
- $6,135
Note: You can apply class credit from Inside Congress and Insider’s Budget 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 idubin@brookings.edu 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.
Apply now for the 2023 LEGIS Congressional Fellowship!
Early application deadline: Sept. 9, 2022
Regular application deadline: Oct. 28, 2022
Application Checklist
Before you submit your application, check to make sure it contains all of the following:
- Your completed application form
- 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.