Seminar Description
The 3-credit seminar, Law and Lawyering in the Nation’s Capital, is designed to enhance the externship experience in three principal ways. First, students will learn about the process of federal lawmaking directly from leading government lawyers, lobbyists, and public interest advocates. Second, students will explore new career opportunities unique to lawyering in Washington, while developing their skills for success in any career path. And third, students will investigate the many roles lawyers in Washington play in making and changing federal law and policy.
Class sessions include frequent guest lecturers and discussion based on students' questions. Renowned judges and practitioners, including U.S. Supreme Court Justices, high-level government attorneys, and directors of national non-profit organizations, are frequent guests. Past guest lecturers have included: Stuart Delery, former White House Counsel to President Biden; Lisa Brown, former General Counsel of the Department of Education; Elizabeth Prelogar, former Solicitor General of the United States; Robert Raben, founder of the public affairs firm The Raben Group; and several judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Part of each session is also devoted to student-led conversations to facilitate peer-to-peer learning about lawyering at the broad range of externship sites.
"Through the UCDC Law Program we saw first-hand how students gain confidence and traction within Washington’s work environment. There’s no better way to determine whether government or public service in D.C. is for you than to spend time here experiencing it.” – Robyn Thiemann, UCDC Law Guest Lecturer, former Associate Deputy Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice, and former Chief of Staff of the Drug Enforcement Administration