Accepting Applications for Separation of Powers Bootcamp in Washington, DC

Key Takeaways

• Bootcamp runs Aug 3‑5, 2026, in Washington, DC
• Applications due May 29, 2026, via email to Prof. Squitieri
• Attendees receive airfare, hotel, meals, and $300 honorarium
• Target audience: recent law grads aiming for judicial clerkships
• Preference for candidates with upcoming clerkships within two years

Pulse Analysis

The Separation of Powers Institute, a niche think‑tank within Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law, has built a reputation for translating academic scholarship into practical training for the nation’s legal elite. By focusing on the constitutional balance among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, SPI fills a gap that traditional law schools often overlook. Its bootcamps attract scholars, former judges, and seasoned practitioners who can demystify complex doctrines such as the nondelegation and major questions doctrines, topics that increasingly shape agency action and judicial review.

This year’s bootcamp, held August 3‑5, 2026, offers a tightly curated curriculum that blends pre‑reading assignments with live lectures on presidential appointment and removal, forms of judicial deference, and the evolving landscape of administrative law. Financially, SPI removes cost barriers by reimbursing domestic coach airfare, providing two nights of hotel lodging, covering all meals, and granting a $300 honorarium to offset local travel. The program is expressly designed for recent law graduates—particularly those slated to clerk within the next two years—ensuring participants can immediately apply the insights to real‑world clerkship duties.

For the broader legal market, the bootcamp serves as a pipeline that enhances the readiness of clerk candidates, a critical asset for federal and state courts seeking analysts versed in separation‑of‑powers nuances. Law schools can point prospective students to this opportunity as a differentiator in a competitive job market, while firms and chambers benefit from clerks who arrive with a deeper grasp of constitutional constraints on agency action. Prospective applicants should act quickly; the May 29 deadline is firm, and early submissions receive priority consideration.