1. Duke in DC Info Session
Fall 2018

2. What is an externship with Duke in DC
Work with real lawyers
In real law offices
Earning academic credit
Learning about reflection, career planning, managing your lawyer-life, and succeeding at your placement.
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

3. Why Do Duke in DC?
Academic
Professional
Personal

4. Why Do Duke in DC? Academic
Develop experience in substantive areas of law.
Classroom knowledge to use in real world practice setting
Develop legal skills.
Litigation, policy, regulatory
Research/writing, client skills, trial skills
Oral advocacy, teamwork, communication
Complement other curricular choices … clinics, skills courses, substantive courses, and pro bono experiences.

5. Why Do Duke in DC? Professional
Get experience in a real law office, with real lawyers
Develop work experience / resume
Develop professional network – here or in D.C.
“Rule out” career interests
Try something different, new
Do public service: pro bono hours

6. Why Do An Externship? Personal
(Re)kindle your enthusiasm for being a lawyer
Gain perspective on law school
Get out from the Duke bubble
(DDC) Come back to law school refreshed
Take the time to reflect on your professional development and identity, learn skills that will help you manage your life as a lawyer
Do pro bono work – help real people / clients

7. Why Do An Externship? You are still a student; this is not a job!
Your learning is paramount
(This is why you get academic credit)

8. Class Component: Duke in D.C.
4-credit seminar
Fall of 3L Year
Federal Policymaking seminar
Steve Roady – Duke Law and Earthjustice
NO SPRING PROGRAM starting in 2018
(But you can go to DC through a Faculty Mentored Externship)

9. Faculty-Mentored Externships
You make them!
Work full-time in DC (or elsewhere)
Work closely with professor to plan research and coordinate with subject matter of placement
Write a substantial research paper
Past Faculty-Mentored Externship: United Nations, Geneva
9 credits for placement, 3-5 for work with professor (paper + tutorial)
PLAN AHEAD

10. Questions so far?

11. How Do I Find an Externship?
US Att’y
Gov’t
Crim
Courts
Enviro
Civil Rights
Financial
PDs
Startups
So many to choose from!
Privacy
Non-profit
Immigration
Anti Trust

12. How Do I Find an Externship?
Self-Directed Process
BUT, Career Counselors, Deans, Professors, and I can all help you strategize.
This is why I’m asking for your area of interest, not just what organization you want to work with – we’ll find you something.
Ashton can talk about her experience here…

13. Examples of Duke in DC externships
Dept. of Justice: Divisions of Civil Rights, Criminal, Environment and Natural Resources, and National Security; Offices of Appellate Staff, International Affairs, Legal Policy, Solicitor General, Counterterrorism, Narcotics and Dangerous Crime
Federal Agencies: Commerce, DoD, EEOC, EPA, FCC, FTC, HHS, SEC, State, TSA
Congressional: House Committees on Financial Services, HELP, and Judiciary; Senate Committees on Budget, Banking, Judiciary, Foreign Relations
Executive Office of the President, World Bank / IFC
NGOs: Future of Privacy Forum, PDS, Public Knowledge, Legal Services Corporation, Smithsonian
Laura Revolinski can talk here

14. Resources for Finding Externship Opportunities in DC
Government Honors and Internship Handbook
Password is: bluedevils
Direct inquiry
Agency websites: start by reaching out to summer internship program coordinators.
Professors: they have connections (esp. DDC)
Sign up for Duke in DC listserv!!!
Process is very similar to a summer job-search
Cost: Office of Financial Aid can increase your loan package by the additional amount it would cost you to live in DC instead of Durham (see John Ahlers for more info)

15. Things to Consider Consider Timing Curricular balance
Must take Ethics first
Remember there’s no Spring Duke in D.C.
If you plan to take a clinic, consider when you’ll get in (if it’s often over-subscribed)
Will you want to use the recommendation for fellowship applications / Honors Program?
Curricular balance
How will it complement what you’re learning that semester?
Desired experience: go with a purpose
diversification? specialization? changing focus? one-time experience? What’s your GOAL?

16. Application Process: Duke in D.C.
No formal application – simply schedule an in-person (preferred) or phone meeting with Anne Gordon to discuss your plan and strategize placements.
Deadline
Soon. DOJ / State require extensive background checks.
Keep in mind the deadlines – in time for Registration could be too late for background checks (which can take six weeks, or longer (for example for the State Department)).
Sample Deadlines:
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy = 10/10/17
Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, U.S. Department of Justice = 10/1/17

17. Questions so far?

18. FAQ’s Do I have to wait to go out and look for placements?
What if I already have an offer, what should I tell them?
I am a dual-degree student, can I still do externships?
If I do Duke in DC, do I need to get Curriculum Committee permission to also do a local externship (or vice versa)? 
Can I get help to figure out what opportunities are available, or what’s right for me?
What’s the LAST possible time I can confirm an externship?

19. Interested? Schedule a Meeting
Book an appointment with me here:

20. Final Questions?
Prof. Anne Gordon, Director of Externships