Benjamin B. Bentrup
During high school, Benjamin (“Ben”) Bentrup won numerous #1-in-state awards for his Spanish classes. After completing both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Spanish, he embarked upon a ten-year teaching career. Concerned about the state of religious freedom in our country, he decided to enter law school and subsequently graduated in the top quartile from Ave Maria School of Law. In law school, Ben achieved the Dean’s List twice, and scored above an A- average combined (graded on a class curve) on his research papers. He won the CALI Award for Excellence in Bioethics (top grade in class), and also received the highest marks in Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Advanced Evidence. He served as both the Scholar and the Scribe of the local St. Thomas More Society chapter. He also interned for the nationally-prominent Thomas More Society law firm in Chicago, completing other internships with the local county probation department and the campus priest concerning due process rights of the accused. After settling down in the Fort Wayne area to be near family, Ben opened The Law Office of Benjamin B. Bentrup to help serve the typical legal needs of the people of Northeast Indiana, especially those that share his Christian vision. Ben frequently volunteers at the Fort Wayne Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, where he often serves the Spanish-speaking clientele. An avid chess player, Ben is a nationally-recognized candidate master and senior-level tournament director. He has coached students to state and national championships. He is the only state player to have defeated the current state champion during his ongoing three-year reign. Ben and his wife homeschool their four children, of course teaching them how to be good future chess-playing lawyers.
- Ave Maria School of Law
- J.D. (2013) | Law
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- Honors: CALI Excellence for the Future Award - Bioethics (highest grade in class); Dean's List
- Activities: St. Thomas More Society – Scholar, Scribe; member of Lex Vitae Society, Federalist Society, Law Partners
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- University of Kentucky
- M.A. (2000) | Spanish
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- Honors: G.P.A. 3.83; University Fellowship, 1998-99; Teaching Assistantship, 1999-2000
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- Transylvania University
- B.A. (1998) | Spanish
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- Graduated in only three years
- Honors: G.P.A. 3.40 (4.00 in major, also does not include 4.00 G.P.A. in 12 other undergraduate courses in Spanish and Paralegal Studies from various institutions)
- Activities: National Spanish Honor Society; semester abroad in Segovia, Spain
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- Symposium on Religious Freedom in Indiana, Fort Wayne, IN
- Confraternity of Penitents
- Licensed Teacher
- Indiana, Virginia, Massachusetts state teaching authorities
- LexisNexis Professional Research Certification
- LexisNexis
- CALI Award for Excellence in Bioethics
- CALI
- Highest grade in Bioethics course
- Runner-Up, State Chess Championships
- Rhode Island Chess Association
- Also finished 2nd in 2009
- Chess Champion
- Bluegrass Games
- Five-time winner
- Action Chess Champion
- Kentucky Chess Association
- 30 minutes per player
- Runner-Up, State Chess Championships
- Kentucky Chess Association
- Indiana
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- Virginia
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- Spanish: Spoken, Written
- Website
- Christian Lawyer Fort Wayne
Religious Freedom