Three members of High Point Law’s inaugural class, Joy Epperson, Caleb Knox, and Britton Miller, were awarded the prestigious Blackstone Legal Fellowship for this summer. All three students who applied from High Point Law were selected, a 100% selection rate, which shows the strong caliber of students in the law school’s inaugural class.
The Blackstone Legal Fellowship is a program developed for law students by Alliance Defending Freedom, the world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom and free speech. The Fellowship mission is “to bring together the best Christian law students from around the United States, train them in legal theory and practice, equip them with the professional skills and networks to thrive in the legal profession, and inspire them to reimagine their careers as a way of serving God.”
Law students apply for the Fellowship from all over the country. Following a competitive admissions process, law students accepted into the program participate in an engaging summer experience focusing on intellectual growth and professional identity development.
The program progresses in three phases. Phase One launches the summer with a two-week classroom training covering legal philosophy, constitutional interpretation and jurisprudence, and Christian worldview formation. Phase Two then places each participant in a prestigious internship aligned with their specific career aspirations. Phase Three concludes the summer as participants reconvene for a concentrated week of instruction centered on professional formation and training in legal and cultural engagement.
In Phase Two, Joy will intern for the Chief Justice Paul Newby of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Caleb will intern for Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. Britton will intern for Chief Judge Chris Dillon of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
In commenting on their selection as Blackstone Fellows, each student expressed their appreciation in being selected and their excitement for the program. Joy shared, “I am certain that the Blackstone Fellowship will have a tremendous impact on my future in the legal profession by furthering my development as both a Christian and a law student. Although I have only completed one year of law school, I am excited to carry the knowledge I have gained into an atmosphere that cultivates such extraordinary learning. By integrating academic integrity, rigor, and excellence paired with indispensable personal and professional skills, the Blackstone Legal Fellowship not only equips future lawyers, but future leaders.”
Caleb stated, “Jurists and academics are engaged in an important discussion on Constitutional interpretation. I look forward to thinking through this subject and more at the Blackstone Fellowship, where I will meet law students from across the nation. I am privileged to join two of my friends from High Point as well.”
Emma observed, “As a Blackstone Fellow, I will have the opportunity to study legal theory and Christian worldview under esteemed scholars and alongside peers who share my faith. Blackstone has an excellent reputation fostered by the intentionality of their staff, depth of their community, quality of their training, and authenticity of their endeavors to develop Christian leaders in the legal field. I am incredibly grateful for this internship the Lord has provided me. The faculty at High Point Law have been indispensable in preparing me for opportunities like Blackstone and the North Carolina Court of Appeals.”
In reflecting on these students’ selection and participation in the program, Founding Dean and Professor of Law Mark Martin commented, “I am proud of Joy, Caleb, and Britton for their selection as 2025 Blackstone Fellows. They will represent the law school well as they interact this summer with legal scholars and fellow students from across the country.”