Murphy International Fellowship Notre Dame Law 2025-26 | Law & Religion Support

Notre Dame Law School Murphy Fellowship 2025-26 – Guide for International Students

The Murphy Fellowship is a distinguished award at Notre Dame Law School designed for first-year law students who are passionate about the intersection of law and religion. Named in honor of Professor Edward J. Murphy, a renowned legal scholar, the fellowship offers financial support, mentorship, and unique academic opportunities through Notre Dame’s programs in church, state, and religious liberty. :contentReference

While the fellowship is open to U.S. law students, international students interested in law & religion can also find value in the training, networks, and thematic focus the fellowship offers—especially if they plan to engage in religious-liberty work globally.

History and Purpose of the Murphy Fellowship

Established to honor Professor Edward J. Murphy, who joined Notre Dame Law’s faculty in 1957 and became the school’s first chaired professor, the fellowship continues his legacy of rigorous legal scholarship and Catholic intellectual tradition.

The fellowship aims to support students committed to exploring the role of religion in public life, church-state relations, and religious freedom. As part of the fellowship, recipients engage in Notre Dame’s Program on Church, State & Society and the Religious Liberty Clinic.

2025-26 Murphy Fellows: Who They Are

For the 2025-26 cycle, four first-year law students were named as Murphy Fellows: Hayden Girard, Grace Messemer, Mary Clare Theis, and Luke Thompson.

• Hayden Girard: Studied philosophy, politics, and law, drawn to exploring how faith can inform legal practice.
• Grace Messemer: A former Supreme Court staffer, interested in law, public service, and faith integration.
• Mary Clare Theis: Former Teach For America teacher; intrigued by religious liberty advocacy.
• Luke Thompson: Pursuing both J.D. and Ph.D.; focused on political theory and religion in legal discourse. :

These fellows were selected through a competitive application process, aligning with the fellowship’s mission to cultivate legal scholars who integrate faith and public reasoning.

Eligibility & Application: What You Need to Know

While Notre Dame Law School’s main focus is on U.S. applicants, here’s what you should understand about eligibility and application—especially if you are an international student interested in the fellowship’s themes.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

• You must be a first-year J.D. student at Notre Dame Law (i.e. enrolled in the first year of law studies).
• You should commit to engaging with law and religion, through coursework, research, or clinic work.
• Applicants typically go through a written application process submitted before or during the first year.

Application Components & Selection Criteria

The fellowship’s internal documents note that selection is based on:

• Academic excellence and promise in law school.
• The quality of a writing sample or research statement demonstrating interest in law & religion.
• Fit with Notre Dame’s mission and capacity to engage with religious liberty programming and clinics.
• Character, leadership potential, and commitment to service or faith-informed legal reasoning.

Tips for International Applicants

• If you are studying outside the U.S., ensure your credentials (e.g. prior degree, transcripts) are equivalent to U.S. standards.
• Make a strong case in your writing sample about how your interest in law & religion has global relevance (not only U.S.-centric).
• Reach out to Notre Dame Law admissions or faculty to express your interest and ask whether your international status would pose any barrier (often it doesn’t).
• Highlight any cross-cultural, religious, or community experience you have engaged with — these can strengthen your profile relative to the fellowship’s theme.

Benefits & What Fellows Get

The Murphy Fellowship is more than just a financial award. Here’s what fellows receive and experience:

• Scholarship support: A generous scholarship (often full tuition) as part of the package.
• Programming & mentorship: Fellows participate in programs through the Program on Church, State & Society and the Religious Liberty Clinic.
• Networking & speaker access: Opportunities to meet judges, visiting scholars, and participate in symposia on faith and law.
• Advanced clinic participation: In later years, fellows may work in the Religious Liberty Clinic, applying legal skills to real cases.

Why the Murphy Fellowship Means Something Special for Students

Here are aspects that make this fellowship unique and impactful, especially for those drawn to law, ethics, and faith-based public engagement:

• Niche specialization: Law & religion is not broadly supported by many law fellowships — this gives you rare thematic focus.
• Integration of practice and theory: You gain academic rigor plus clinic exposure in religious-liberty cases.
• Community and identity: Fellows become part of a cohort with shared mission, not just financial beneficiaries.
• Long-term value: Many alumni carry this foundation into leadership roles in government, nonprofits, religious institutions, and faith-based legal advocacy.

Comparison with Other Fellowships (For Law & Religion Focus)

To help you see where Murphy stands, here’s a quick comparison with other notable fellowships:

How to Decide If the Murphy Fellowship Is Right for You

Before you invest time applying, consider:

• Is your interest in law & religion robust and sustained (not just a side interest)?
• Do you envision combining faith, public law, and academic discourse in your career?
• Are you comfortable working across theology, philosophy, and legal reasoning?
• Will you commit to Notre Dame’s religious-liberty programming (clinic, events) if selected?

If your vision aligns, this fellowship offers both financial support and intellectual community to grow in the law & religion space.

Application Timeline & Deadlines

While the exact dates may shift each year, the fellowship typically aligns with the following timeline:

• Law School application deadline: Usually in late fall or early winter for the incoming class.
• Fellowship application period: Often coincides with or follows the law school admission cycle.
• Fellows announced: Usually early in the academic year (fall), once law class is formed. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

Tips to Boost Your Fellowship Application

• Write a compelling research or position statement that connects legal theory, religious liberty, and your personal experiences.
• Show interdisciplinary curiosity: If you have studied philosophy, theology, history, or religious studies, link it to your legal ambitions.
• Get strong references from professors or mentors who understand your interest in law & religion.
• Participate in relevant activities: Engage in religious liberty debates, internships, moot courts, or related clubs to show commitment.

Challenges & Considerations for International Applicants

Some points you should keep in mind if you are applying from outside the U.S.:

• Visa & eligibility: Ensure you meet U.S. law school admission and visa requirements.
• Credential evaluation: Ensure your prior degrees and transcripts are recognized by U.S. law schools.
• Funding gaps: Murphy Fellowship may not cover all living expenses outside tuition — budget accordingly.
• Community engagement: If you cannot travel physically, ask if participation through virtual means is possible for events or mentoring.

Real Student Voices & Experience

Although primarily U.S.-based, the 2025–26 fellows provide insights valuable to international learners. For instance:

• Even those coming from non-legal backgrounds (e.g. philosophy or teaching) have successfully pivoted to law & religion priority within the fellowship.
• Mentorship and faith-based community were recurring benefits noted by fellows.

FAQ — Murphy Fellowship (Law & Religion Focus)

1. Is the Murphy Fellowship a full scholarship?

Yes, it includes generous scholarship support (often tuition waiver) combined with programming.

2. Can non-U.S. (international) students apply?

The fellowship is open to J.D. students at Notre Dame Law. International students who meet law school admission criteria may participate, but check with admissions for details.

3. Do I need to already have admission to Notre Dame Law?

You should apply or secure admission to Notre Dame Law, as the fellowship is for enrolled or incoming law students. The fellowship selection usually coincides with the law admissions process.

4. How many students receive it?

Each year, four first-year students are selected as Murphy Fellows.

5. Is there a separate application?

Yes: applicants submit a fellowship application (often writing sample or research statement) in addition to law school admission materials.

6. What kind of programming comes with the fellowship?

Fellows access mentorship, speaker events, clinic work, and immersion in Notre Dame’s religious-liberty academic community.

7. Does being a Murphy Fellow guarantee success in law & religion career paths?

No guarantee, but the fellowship gives valuable support, networks, and training that can significantly boost opportunities in religious liberty, academia, or public interest law.

Conclusion: Is the Murphy Fellowship Right for You?

If you are a law student with deep interest in how law intersects with faith, community, and public life, the Murphy Fellowship stands out as one of the few robust platforms that supports that focus. Even as an international applicant, its mentorship, clinic access, and scholarly engagement make it a compelling opportunity — provided you can meet Notre Dame’s law admission criteria and thoughtfully present your vision in your fellowship application.

To learn more about the Murphy Fellowship, its history, selection, and application, visit the official fellowship page and Notre Dame Law’s scholarship section.
Official Murphy Fellowship Announcement at Notre Dame Law