How this lawyer couple balances work, family, and faith

For John and Mackenzi Ehrett, Patrick Henry College was more than just a stepping stone to law school; it was a proving ground.

Before federal agencies, Senate hearings, and high-stakes litigation, the two met as students at PHC, both immersed in the college’s rigorous academic culture.

“We were both on the debate team,” John said. “PHC was the place to be if you wanted to go into law and politics.”

That shared foundation would shape not only their careers, but their marriage, intellectual lives, and how they approach their work today.

Foundation of Rigor and Conviction

Both John and Mackenzi were drawn to PHC through the International Politics and Policy (IPP) Program and its emphasis on serious academic engagement.

“I can’t think of any other school that places as much emphasis on rigor,” John said. “You’re given a toolkit, and you’re expected to use it for whatever career you want to pursue.”

For Mackenzi, that rigor had practical benefits for law school. “The way PHC teaches through active dialogue between professors and students gives you a real advantage,” she explained. “At PHC, we wrote constantly. That matters when you get to law school.”

While law school presented new challenges, neither John nor Mackenzi found themselves academically outmatched. Instead, the adjustment was cultural.

“I remember sitting in my torts class and realizing I had more in common with a Muslim classmate than almost anyone else because we shared moral convictions," Mackenzi said. "I hadn’t realized how rich it was to be in a Christian community at PHC until I left it.”

Intellectual Life

Commitment to continue learning is something PHC emphasizes strongly for its students.

“The biggest thing is to keep reading,” John said. “You don’t just come to PHC to collect information and throw it away. The habits you build here are meant to last.”

At PHC, the expectation to develop an intellectual life is built into the culture.

“People care about things that aren’t just instrumental. They care about truth and about each other. That stays with you," John said.

When asked what advice he would give to current PHC students considering law school, John said, “Take your classes seriously from the outset. Treat everything with seriousness. The rewards compound over time.”

“If you want to succeed, be interesting. Especially in competitive environments, you need to be someone people want to talk to. Have interests and be able to carry a conversation," Mackenzi said.

Career and Family

Today, the Ehretts balance demanding legal careers with family life.  They approach parenting with the same intentionality that marked their academic years.

“Marry someone you can have an open dialogue with,” John said. “Being aligned in your values makes everything else possible.”

Mackenzi was equally candid about the realities of balancing a career with family life.

“The switch from being with your kids to suddenly dealing with complex legal issues can feel very abrupt. I couldn’t do it without John being so supportive," Mackenzi said.

Their approach reflects a broader truth PHC teaches: vocation is not a single track but a life rightly ordered. Faith, family, and work should not be in competition.

Patrick Henry College exists to glorify God by challenging the status quo in higher education, lifting high both faith and reason within a rigorous academic environment; thereby preserving for posterity the ideals behind the "noble experiment in ordered liberty" that is the foundation of America.