Making Magic: How a Disney Detour and D.C. Internships Propelled Bella Melton to Harvard Law

A close-up, over-the-shoulder portrait of Bella Melton looking off to the side during her graduation ceremony. She is wearing a black silk graduation gown and a distinct black velvet doctoral tam over her blonde hair. A large crimson Harvard shield banner hangs out of focus on the stone building facade in the background.

For many students aiming for a highly competitive legal career, the strategy is often rigid: keep your head down, study for the LSAT, and strictly build a traditional political resume. But for recent University of Montana alumna Bella Melton, the secret to breaking into the nation’s elite legal circles was choosing to say “yes” to the unexpected.

Bella graduated summa cum laude from UM in 2022 as a University Scholar, completing two majors (Political Science and Multidisciplinary Studies), two certificates (Global Leadership and World Competencies), and satisfying all Davidson Honors College requirements—all in just three years.

Today, she is a May 2026 graduate of Harvard Law School and is preparing to launch her career as an attorney at the global law firm Jones Day in California this October. Here is how she leveraged a powerhouse mix of diplomatic fellowships and a strategic detour to Disney World to build an unforgettable professional profile.

The Strategy: Stacking High-Stakes Fellowships and Outward-Facing Experiences

Bella jumped into experiential learning during her very first semester at UM. By actively pursuing immersive roles, she built an elite foundation in diplomacy, policy, and public relations despite the remote challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Local Legal Foundations: During her first semester, as part of the Pre-Law Seminar, Bella secured an internship at local Missoula law firm Goodrich & Reely, an experience that immediately enhanced her classroom studies.
  • Federal Policy and Diplomacy: Bella was awarded a high-profile Senate internship through the Baucus Institute Fellowship in 2020, serving two terms with the U.S. Senate. She also spent a year interning with the Montana World Affairs Council and served in a variety of roles with the Mansfield Center for three years.
  • The Corporate Detour (The Disney College Program): Having dreamed of working at Disney World from a young age, Bella chose to accelerate her degree to graduate in three years. When the program reopened in 2022 after pandemic pauses, she took a leap, spent the summer studying for the LSAT, and moved to Orlando. Working the entry and exit gates at EPCOT, she developed high-level, outward-facing communication and intercultural skills.

The Career Launch: Standing Out to Elite Programs

While some viewed the Disney College Program as a divergence from her strict international affairs track, it became her ultimate secret weapon. Bella completed her law school applications and interviews while working in Orlando.

Without exception, every single law school admissions interviewer asked her about her time at Disney. The experience provided a highly memorable, unique talking point that distinguished her application from thousands of other traditional pre-law candidates across the country.

That distinct background helped her secure admission to Harvard Law School. Now, on the cusp of joining Jones Day as a practicing corporate attorney, Bella credits her rapid success directly to her willingness to step outside the classroom.

A full-length portrait of Bella Melton walking on a grassy lawn in her graduation regalia at Harvard Law School. She is smiling subtly, wearing a black doctoral gown with velvet panels, a black terno-style cap, and black heels. Large blue and crimson Harvard banners hang from the stone pillars of the campus building behind her.

There is no question that my experiential learning experiences contributed significantly to my success,” Bella reflects. “Without exception, every law school interviewer asked me about the Disney internship. It provided an interesting talking point and made my applications more memorable. This was incredibly helpful when applying to highly competitive graduate programs.

Career Lessons from Bella’s Journey

  • Unconventional experiences make you memorable. Don’t be afraid to take an internship that seems outside your specific major or track. Unique, outward-facing roles like the Disney College Program build invaluable soft skills and give you a memorable narrative that sets you apart in competitive interviews.
  • Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Moving to Washington, D.C., in 2021 was Bella’s first time living outside of Montana. Navigating a fast-paced, highly professional environment alone built the personal confidence and resilience required to succeed at an Ivy League law school and a global firm.
  • Experiential learning builds what textbooks can’t. Internships provide two things classrooms cannot reproduce: the chance to develop real professional diplomacy while interacting with colleagues, and the concrete work history that graduate schools and top-tier employers demand.

Take Action on Your Career Journey

By Keely Morrison
Keely Morrison Marketing and Communications Manager
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