Legislative Fellowship Program
Frequently Asked Questions
The LSC fellowship program is a full-time, paid program. Fellows
currently earn $42,000 per year or $20.20 per hour plus the same
benefit package provided to all permanent, full-time state employees,
including several types of paid leave (holiday, vacation, personal,
and sick leave) as well as health care and retirement benefits.
Fellows also receive compensatory time off for any overtime worked.
The cohort application process opens in January. Links to the
applications and the latest salary information can be found on the
fellowship program home page.
Interviews take place in May, conducted by LSC fellowship program
staff along with the House or Senate caucus staff or OGT staff. Final
selection decisions are made at the end of May or early June.
Yes! You may apply before your scheduled graduation date. You are only
required to hold a bachelor's degree before the program starts in
early December.
Legislative fellows must hold a bachelor's degree before the start
date of the program. Candidates from all majors are considered.
As part of the application, you will be asked to upload the following documents: (1) Résumé; (2) Transcript from each college or university attended; (3) A 500-750 word personal statement explaining why you are interested in the fellowship program and what makes you a good candidate for the program; and (4) Names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of two individuals who can speak to your academic or employment record. LSC will contact your references for letters of recommendation.
As part of the application, you will be asked to upload the following documents: (1) Résumé; (2) Transcript from each college or university attended; (3) A 500-750 word personal statement explaining why you are interested in the fellowship program and what makes you a good candidate for the program; and (4) Names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of two individuals who can speak to your academic or employment record. LSC will contact your references for letters of recommendation.
Media production fellows must, before the start date of the program,
hold a bachelor's degree with a major or minor in either Mass Media
Communications, Journalism (Broadcast or Video & Film),
Communication/Communication Arts (Electronic Media,
Telecommunications, and Radio/Television), or Media Production. A
bachelor's degree in another area of study will be considered if you
have acquired the requisite video production skills.
As part of the application, you will be asked to upload the following documents: (1) Résumé; (2) Transcript from each college or university attended; (3) A 500-750 word personal statement explaining why you are interested in the fellowship program and what makes you a good candidate for the program; (4) A demo reel, up to five minutes in length, and that is publicly accessible via web link, with your name and duties related to the project(s) clearly indicated; and (5) Names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of two individuals who can speak to your academic or employment record. LSC will contact your references for letters of recommendation.
As part of the application, you will be asked to upload the following documents: (1) Résumé; (2) Transcript from each college or university attended; (3) A 500-750 word personal statement explaining why you are interested in the fellowship program and what makes you a good candidate for the program; (4) A demo reel, up to five minutes in length, and that is publicly accessible via web link, with your name and duties related to the project(s) clearly indicated; and (5) Names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of two individuals who can speak to your academic or employment record. LSC will contact your references for letters of recommendation.
One of the primary responsibilities for most fellows assigned to the
House or Senate is to assist members with constituent outreach,
including responding to inquiries from district residents when they
have a problem or concern. Writing assignments might include press
releases, newsletters, speeches, and committee memorandums. Fellows
also research issues and perform administrative work.
Fellows assigned to nonpartisan LSC draft and analyze legislation,
including a bill's fiscal effects on state and local government,
conduct research to provide answers to legislative inquiries, and
staff legislative committees. Fellows assigned to the Office of
Research and Drafting (ORD) focus more on the “legal” side of
legislative services, while fellows assigned to the Legislative Budget
Office (LBO) focus more on the “budget” side of legislative services.
Fellows are assigned many of the same duties as permanent ORD and LBO
staff.
The personal statement should answer a two-part question: why you are
interested in the LSC Fellowship Program and what makes you a good
candidate for the program. The personal statement must be typewritten
and range from 500 to 750 words.
Yes! All fellows will be required to take part in a week-long
orientation program at the start of the program. During orientation
you will learn how the legislative process works, participate in
workshops on useful resources and skills, meet with legislators and
legislative staff, hear from members of the outgoing class of fellows
and former fellows on their experiences, and tour the Statehouse and
other government offices and facilities.
Although completing the 13-month fellowship program does not
automatically guarantee permanent employment with the General Assembly
or the state of Ohio, many fellows are offered permanent positions
with the General Assembly as legislative staff or with state agencies
as legislative liaisons as a result of participating in the fellowship
program. Post-fellowship opportunities in the private sector have
included positions with lobbying or public relations firms. A
directory of current and
former fellows is available on the program page of the LSC website:
lsc.ohio.gov/fellowship.
Yes! You are welcome to schedule an in-person informational tour to
learn more about the program in person. Email
LSC fellowship program staff
or call (614) 466-3615 to schedule an informational tour.
To learn more about the LSC fellowship program, email Fellowship or call (614) 466-3615.