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: Douglas Letter, General Counsel to the House of Representatives; Robyn Thiemann, Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, and Chief of Staff for Drug Enforcement Administration; Thomas Johnson, Federal Communications Commission, General Counsel; Robert Raben, founder of the public affairs firm, The Raben Group; and Mary McCord, Legal Director at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection.  Part of each session is also devoted to student-led conversations in order 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 current Chief of Staff of the Drug Enforcement Administration