Washington, D.C., Summer Program

2003 Recap - by Shawn Brown (3L)

The initial Washington D.C. Summer Program took place from late May to mid- July, 2003. The classes were taught at the George Washington University College of Law in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.

• 2003 Students and Externships

The Courses
Two classes were taught. The first, which was taken by all the students involved with the program, was a class in regulatory theory and policy and dealt with the uses and limits of regulation. The second was part of the internship and covered the ethical dilemmas facing an attorney practicing in the nation's capital.

The regulatory class applied the theory of institutional choice to the area of cyber-security. The first week consisted of a daily evening class that was divided between an hour-long discussion a reading assignment and a speaker. The speakers were people whose jobs involved dealing with the issues we were discussing. They included a commissioner for the Federal Trade Commission, a computer science professor, and a corporate security specialist.

The internship class involved discussing the unique ethical and conflict of interest issues that are faced by attorneys who engaged in policy and advocacy work in the nation's capital. We talked about options available to an attorney who has to advocate for or implement a policy he or she is opposed to.

Student Experiences
The program is housed at the George Washington University (GWU), which is in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. It is the perfect area for anyone trying to experience as much of the District of Columbia as possible. Situated between Lafayette Park and Georgetown, and just south of Dupont Circle, this historic 19th century community houses the State Department, the Watergate complex, and the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts. It is in walking distance of the National Mall, the Smithsonian and the National Archives.

GWU provides probably the most affordable housing in the District, and since it will put in a college neighborhood, you are surrounded by good cheap food and great, little bars and pubs. Also, living at GWU helps to integrate you into the community of interns that descend on the capital every summer. You have the ability to network with people your age from across the country who are pursuing similar goals. You have the chance to become friends with other future leaders from across the country.

Comments from Ohio State Moritz Law Students

"Looking back on this summer, there are memories that I will carry with me throughout my legal career. Some of the highlights would have to be watching 4th of July fireworks from the South Lawn of the White House, touring the CIA building, seeing President Bush swear in the new OMB Director and having a few drinks by the waterfront in Georgetown." - Gilda Mossadegh (3L), intern at the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

"Professor Swire provided us with amazing opportunities both in terms of job placements and cultural experiences that typical law students never encounter and that are only available in Washington D.C." - Nicole Vander Does (2L), intern at the Health Privacy Project

"The regulatory policy was great - NO CASES! It was a nice change for those students who are interested in public policy and government work." - Heather Hostetler (3L), intern at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health