Frequently Asked Questions & Program Details

Q.  What are the dates of the upcoming CLS Law School Fellows program?
A. Currently scheduled for May 19 – 25, 2024.

Q.  Where will the program be held?
A.  The 2024 CLS Law School Fellows program will be held in Washington, D.C.

Q.   Who is eligible to apply for the program?
A.  The program is designed for students who are currently in their first or second year of law school.

Q.  What criteria are used to select students?
A.  Criteria include academic excellence, commitment to the mission of the program, character, and spiritual maturity. (The CLS Fellows program will be taught from a Christian perspective, but students from any faith tradition or none will be considered for admittance). Because the program is designed to provide foundational material from a Christian perspective, students from schools that do not teach from a distinctly Christian perspective will be given some preference.

Q.  How much does it cost to participate in the program?
A.  All program materials, instruction, travel to and from DC, lodging, and meals are covered for every student. Students should consider bringing money for snacks and incidental expenses.

Q.  When will applications be accepted?
A.   Applications will be accepted November 1 thru March 8.

Q.  When is the deadline for applications?
A.  March 8. All items must be uploaded by 11:59 PM EST on March 8.

Q.  What will I need to submit for my application?
A.  Applicants must complete the online application, which includes:
1) personal contact information, 2) a current resume or CV in PDF format, 3) responses to the listed personal questions (suggested response length is 100-300 words each), and 4) contact information for two references (other than family members).

Q.  How will I know if I’ve been accepted into the program?
A.  All applicants will be notified via email by March 29. Requests for early decisions will be considered. Successful applicants will need to complete their Letter of Acceptance and Participation Agreement before enrollment is official.

Q.  How many students will be accepted into the program?
A.  We anticipate that the 2024 class will be between 25 – 40 students.

Q.  Will you accept more than one student from a particular law school?
A.  Yes, but it is likely that we will cap acceptances from the same school at two students this year.

Q.  Will I be required to attend the entire week?
A.  Yes. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory for every student. There will be limited free time during the week, and some of the meals and excursions will be optional. As a general rule, however, students should be prepared to attend sessions or activities from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Monday through Friday, and from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday. Students will be asked to arrive on site before 5:00 PM on Sunday, and depart after 3:00 PM on Saturday.

Q.  What will the substantive teaching be like?
A.  The goal of the Fellows week is to create a scholarly community around the topics of vocational stewardship, Christian jurisprudence, and moral formation. Faculty will speak on vocation and calling; legal ethics; morality and integrity in the context of law practice; jurisprudence, biblical law, and natural law; religious freedom; and Christian service. Faculty will teach from a Christian perspective, with an understanding that God’s redemptive work can transform not only lawyers and law students, but also legal institutions and law firms.

Q.  Whom should I contact if I have further questions?
A.  Contact us at clsfellows@clsnet.org.