Washington Center

UCDC Law Program

Credits: 
3
Instructor: 
Campus: 
UC Law
Category: 
Special
Location: 
Conference 301
Description: 

Your externship in the UCDC Law Program has two main components: the lawyering you do at the externship site, guided by your externship supervisor, reflected on in your journal and monitored and supported by me; and the companion course, a 3-credit seminar with frequent guest speakers, lively class discussion and a major paper by each student on a legal topic relevant to the externship. The seminar is designed to enhance your externship experience in three principal ways. First, we will learn about the process of federal lawmaking directly from leading government lawyers, lobbyists, public interest advocates, and journalists. Second, we'll explore new career opportunities unique to lawyering in Washington, even as we enhance your skill set for success on any career path. Third, we will investigate the unique role of lawyers in making and changing federal law and policy. Class sessions generally include guest speakers and class discussion based on your questions submitted in advance. Part of each session will be devoted to a grand rounds-style exchange to facilitate peer-to-peer learning about lawyering at the broad range of externship sites. Each student will write a final paper, typically on a legal topic selected in consultation with the instructor and the externship supervisor for educational value and salience to the office. The final classes of the term will be devoted to presentation of papers in progress. Each student will make detailed written comments on one fellow student's draft paper, and where possible will share those comments as a discussant when that paper is presented in class.

Course ID: 
UCDCLAW