For over a decade, the James Wilson Institute has worked to restore the teaching of first principles to young lawyers. Our approach, that teaches law and morality as inextricably bound together, recovers the "truth" at the heart of jurisprudence.

Happily, we have begun to see the fruits of our labors as some of these young lawyers have advanced in their careers and become teachers themselves. Since its inception, the James Wilson Fellowship has graduated seven tenured or tenure-track law school professors. These young legal scholars are now equipped to share a “Natural Law lens” with the next generation; they have the tools to teach that law is not, as the Left often describes it, “an instrument of the powerful against the powerless,” or conversely that law is all process and no substance.

We recently interviewed one of these scholars, Professor Hayley Stillwell (JWI '19), who is now an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Below, you will find her thoughts on her career and the James Wilson Institute.

Reflecting on your time with the James Wilson Fellowship, how has it influenced your career trajectory?

The James Wilson Fellowship influenced my career trajectory by solidifying my aspiration to become a law professor. The program's immersive environment of intellectual discourse and critical analysis of legal principles resonated deeply with my academic interests. Engaging in respectful debates around a table with fellow participants, we delved into not just the current state of the law, but also its historical foundations and potential future directions. The fellowship's emphasis on foundational principles of jurisprudence and natural law theory provided a rich context for these discussions.

Ultimately, the James Wilson Fellowship served as a catalyst, confirming my love for critical legal thinking and propelling me further along the path toward an academic career in law. It provided invaluable insights into the depth and breadth of legal scholarship, inspiring me to contribute to this field as a future educator and scholar.

What excites you most about your new role and the opportunity to teach young lawyers?

What excites me most about my new role and the opportunity to teach young lawyers is the chance to make a meaningful impact on the next generation of legal professionals. I hope I can ignite a genuine enthusiasm for the legal profession among my students. By sharing my own experiences and highlighting the profound impact lawyers can have on society, I hope to inspire them to pursue their legal careers with dedication and purpose.

In what ways has the network of JWI Alumni supported you, and how do you envision it continuing to do so in the future?

I have met so many wonderful people through the James Wilson Institute. I stay in contact with many fellows and even had the opportunity to clerk with one following the fellowship. Any time I get together with someone from the alumni network, we have thoughtful conversations about the law, undoubtedly stemming in part from our time at the JWI.

In 2024, JWI alumnus Hayley Stillwell received an associate professorship at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where she teaches, researches and writes on the issue of criminal justice system reform, with a particular focus on critically analyzing and reforming evidentiary rules. Her scholarship has been published in the Arizona State Law Journal, the Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy, and the George Mason Law Review, and has been cited in amicus briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court. Following her 2019 JWI fellowship, Hayley clerked for Chief Judge Timothy Tymkovich of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and Judge Michael Park of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.