Capitol Hill 1L Summer? Forum

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

Do many 1Ls/rising 2Ls spend their summer on Capitol Hill (i.e., for a congressman)? I can see on my school directory that it HAS been done but I'm not sure if it's especially commonplace, or even acceptable (in the minds of future employers) or recommended. Hoping someone with experience can chime in.

Curious to know what the responsibilities are, given that, at least at my school, the work has to be supervised by a licensed attorney.

Thanks.

[wwwcol]

ya people do it and there's nothing wrong with it for OCI purposes if you're wondering about that (and IME it may even be a little bonus if you want DC Biglaw). i think senate side is more common that house, in part because there is much more interest in sen. judiciary. if work has to be supervised by licensed attorney, then maybe limit your apps to offices with leg counsel? responsibilities are gonna vary widely by office and member's committee (if you're thinking about doing personal offices), but a lot of drafting/updating memos on new issues/legislation, drafting response letters to constituents on law-related issues, etc. i suspect there may be differences in working for a personal office and a committee but can't comment intelligently on what those differences are

[arklaw13]

Depends on your role. If it's working for the staff on the Senate Judiciary Committee or doing some other kind of work that is obviously legal in nature, as opposed to political, then it's fine. Just make sure to emphasize the legal aspect of the work on your resume.

[Yukos]

I've only heard of people interning for senators on Judiciary, but their work seemed pretty cool (and perfectly good for OCI). I believe that every committee has majority and minority counsel, and it seems like some of these would hire interns, but I've never heard of this.

[Anonymous User]

I'd only recommend doing it if it's in a legal role, like judiciary. I think it actually can (mildly) hurt you in your OCI interviews if you are just in a policy role and are looking for a position outside DC.

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

Thanks for the replies. Can anyone speak to the competitiveness of landing an externship with a rep. or on a committee?

[wwwcol]

By "rep" do you mean just House, or are you talking about both chambers?

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

By "rep" do you mean just House, or are you talking about both chambers?

Fair. I mean either.

[Anonymous User]

3L here headed to clerk for a senator on the Judiciary Committee this summer after graduation and before beginning a couple of judicial clerkships. The feeling I received from the interview process was that spots are typically very limited in senators' offices. The only reason I received the interview was that my judges knew the senator's chief counsel and made some phone calls. The folks there told me that the competitive nature was largely due to the limited amount of space in the offices available for clerks.

I would highly recommend the opportunity if you receive it, particularly if you're interested in judicial clerkships and eventually working for the government. The networking is invaluable. Just keep in mind the power of a senator's name on your resume as that will signal your ideological tendencies and can help or hinder you in the future.

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

3L here headed to clerk for a senator on the Judiciary Committee this summer after graduation and before beginning a couple of judicial clerkships. The feeling I received from the interview process was that spots are typically very limited in senators' offices. The only reason I received the interview was that my judges knew the senator's chief counsel and made some phone calls. The folks there told me that the competitive nature was largely due to the limited amount of space in the offices available for clerks.

I would highly recommend the opportunity if you receive it, particularly if you're interested in judicial clerkships and eventually working for the government. The networking is invaluable. Just keep in mind the power of a senator's name on your resume as that will signal your ideological tenancies and can help or hinder you in the future.

Thanks for the info. Congrats on the SWeet gigs!

I may have the chance to intern for a senior rep. on one of Ways & Means / Judiciary / Rules -- do you think that would be worthwhile as a 1L?

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

3L here headed to clerk for a senator on the Judiciary Committee this summer after graduation and before beginning a couple of judicial clerkships. The feeling I received from the interview process was that spots are typically very limited in senators' offices. The only reason I received the interview was that my judges knew the senator's chief counsel and made some phone calls. The folks there told me that the competitive nature was largely due to the limited amount of space in the offices available for clerks.

I would highly recommend the opportunity if you receive it, particularly if you're interested in judicial clerkships and eventually working for the government. The networking is invaluable. Just keep in mind the power of a senator's name on your resume as that will signal your ideological tendencies and can help or hinder you in the future.

Feel free to PM me if you get the chance.

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

*BUMPing*

[zosluu]

3L here headed to clerk for a senator on the Judiciary Committee this summer after graduation and before beginning a couple of judicial clerkships. The feeling I received from the interview process was that spots are typically very limited in senators' offices. The only reason I received the interview was that my judges knew the senator's chief counsel and made some phone calls. The folks there told me that the competitive nature was largely due to the limited amount of space in the offices available for clerks.

I would highly recommend the opportunity if you receive it, particularly if you're interested in judicial clerkships and eventually working for the government. The networking is invaluable. Just keep in mind the power of a senator's name on your resume as that will signal your ideological tenancies and can help or hinder you in the future.

Thanks for the info. Congrats on the SWeet gigs!

I may have the chance to intern for a senior rep. on one of Ways & Means / Judiciary / Rules -- do you think that would be worthwhile as a 1L?

Message me if you need any advice. I interned at a lobbying firm on the Hill last Summer. Lots of opportunities there and all the lobbyists are usually attorneys