Alliance Defense Fund hopes to mold the next generation
In 2000, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) started the Blackstone Legal Fellowship program. Named in honor of Sir William Blackstone, whose Commentaries on the Laws of England were a basis for the U.S. Constitution and have had a profound impact on jurisprudence since their release in the 1760s, the aim of the program was to augment the training law students receive so as to ground them more firmly in natural law principles, real world experience in bringing needed change to the current legal system, reasoned defenses of religious liberty, the sanctity of life, and marriage and the family.
Through this program, ADF has had the opportunity to train and deploy more than a thousand men and women of Christian conviction, passion, and intelligence to restore freedom and bring about change in our culture.
And this year, ADF is launching a new program designed to reach college upperclassmen and those who have recently graduated from college who are pursuing future careers as a leaders in law and public policy. Launching this summer, and aptly named the Alliance Defense Fund Collegiate Academy, the aim of the program will be to envision, equip, and deploy students who are distinctly Christian and whose faith permeates and encompasses the whole of their lives.
The weeklong program includes an intense core curriculum in Christian worldview, jurisprudence, common law heritage, and constitutional theory and analysis. Students will gather at a central location in Phoenix, AZ for a week of lectures, seminars, and individual academic assignments. Those attending the academy will also receive career-focused training designed to launch them on the path to securing positions of influence.
The Alliance Defense Fund Collegiate Academy is designed to strengthen each participant’s mind, will, and conviction to effectively engage the culture. Applicants compete for a limited number of seats. Criteria for selection include demonstrated Christian commitment, motivation to engage popular legal culture, potential for leadership in law and public policy, and academic achievement. For those selected to attend, ADF underwrites the cost of airfare, lodging, materials, and most meals.
The dates for the Academy are May 27 through June 1, 2012. Applications are available at www.adflegal.org/CollegiateAcademy, and must be submitted no later than February 16, 2012.
