“One of the great things about working for an SEC commissioner is the broad portfolio of things we work on,” Salerno says. Aaron Salerno ’20 worked for then-Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Robert Jackson Jr., drafting comments on proposed agency rules, preparing Jackson for a congressional hearing, and writing talking points for Jackson and staffing his public appearances. Much of that comes during student presentations on non-confidential aspects of their externships. While fieldwork placements give clinic students a close-up view of Washington practice in their respective offices, the Wednesday gatherings offer a bigger-picture perspective. “Where else would one get that kind of opportunity?” He adds: “Also, it was taco night, which is one of the seminar's best dinner menus.” ![]() “At one seminar, we had the opportunity to talk about the legislative effort behind the passage of the Affordable Care Act with the individual who spearheaded the effort to get the legislation passed,” recalls Joshua Fattal ’18, who took the clinic in fall 2017. Katzen and Bauer invite guests from various parts of Washington’s legal and policy ecosystem to co-teach some classes. “You have to create separation and make sure it’s documented, because it’s very dangerous.” What if the constituent ties the issue she’s lobbying for to future fundraising? “You may have to say, ‘That’s not going to happen,’” Bauer said. As is typical in a law school class, the hypothetical kept changing. Syllabus topics for the seminar include “How the President’s Budget is Prepared,” “Congressional Oversight,” and “The Lobbying Business.” The topic on November 27 was “Ethics and Transparency.” That’s when Bauer presented the hypothetical involving the member of Congress and a constituent. A buffet dinner is served, and Katzen and Bauer, seated at the head of a long conference table, preside over a conversation that is part class, part debrief, and part breaking-news discussion. The gathering has the feel of a family meal. The students spend most of each week at their respective placements, but for three hours each Wednesday evening, they converge in downtown Washington for the seminar portion of the class. Longtime Washington insiders, they tap into their deep Capitol connections to arrange students’ fieldwork placements-externships in federal government offices or at government-focused nonprofits. ![]() Bauer and Professor of Practice Sally Katzen are co-directors of the clinic.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |