PILC inaugurates D.C. Summer Series for public interest interns

In the midst of the fresh excitement over a new presidential administration, the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) is funding twice as many public-sector summer internships in Washington, D.C. this year as it did in 2008. To broaden the experience for those students spending their summer in the nation’s capital, PILC has inaugurated its D.C. Summer Series, featuring networking events and informational group lunches with Law School alumni in public service positions. "The purpose of the program is to strengthen NYU Law’s presence in federal government and encourage students to consider government careers," said Ashok Ayyar '11, the coordinator of the series, who is interning this summer in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The series kicked off on June 10 with a lunchtime presentation by Representative Diana L. DeGette ’82 of Colorado at the Capitol Visitor Center. DeGette, a former Root-Tilden Scholar, spoke to a group of NYU Law students about her career path. After graduating she worked as a public defender, entered private practice, and then joined the Colorado state legislature before being elected to the U.S. Congress in 1996. DeGette touched on the challenges of a political career, including explaining the convolutions of the political process to constituents and influencing policy debate as a junior member of Congress. She also described the rewards, including the ability to improve people’s lives and make an impact on society.

Alison Nathan, currently an associate White House counsel and formerly the 2008-09 Alexander Fellow at NYU Law, will speak at the next lunchtime presentation on June 24. 

Posted on June 18, 2009