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 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)
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, orientation that explains legislative mechanics.
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. Bill Haggerty (R-TN) | Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) |
| Sen. Amy Klobucher (D-MN) | Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) |
| Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) | Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) |
| 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 3, 2025
- In-Person Orientation: January 5-13, 2026
Seven-month Fellowship
Dates:
- January 5-July 31, 2026*
Tuition:
- $4,650
Full-year Fellowship
Dates:
- January 5-December 18, 2026*
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. Federal employees 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.
Select government agencies have an internal selection process.
- Eligible DoD personnel must first apply to the annual DoD call for Legislative Fellow nominees that occurs in April. Only Legislative Fellowship nominees who are approved in writing by the USD(P&R) are authorized to apply to the Brookings Institute Legislative Fellowship. Please refer to DoDI 1322.06 for full details.
Application Deadline
- Early Admission Deadline: September 5, 2025
- Application Deadline: October 24, 2025
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.