FBA’s Law Student Series Kicks Off

Being a law student during a pandemic is a strange experience. While we must cope with the usual stresses of performing well at our summer positions and preparing for a fall semester, all of it is done in a virtual environment. However, being stuck at home does not stop the need to continue preparing for life after graduation, especially since no one is certain what the legal market will look like in a year or two. But that task has been made more complicated without the networking and mentorship opportunities traditionally available to law students throughout the summer.

The Federal Bar Association’s Law Student Series is working to counteract many of the difficulties law students are facing by not having face-to-face experiences with attorneys. The series got off to a strong start on July 13 with the “Law Student Series Kick-Off & Careers in the Department of Justice Panel.”

In framing the series and describing his vision for the division, Law Student Division Chair Glen McMurry emphasized that the FBA was here to help law students through these difficult times. He spoke about how FBA members care about each other and want to make one another successful.

The panel on the Careers in the Department of Justice featured:

• Ashley Akers, FBA Young Lawyers Division
• Nick Cannon, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Puerto Rico
• Annie Motto, Trial Attorney, Civil Division
• Colleen Phillips, Trial Attorney, Civil Rights Division
• Bill Rinner, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division

The panel provided valuable insights on the various paths to the DOJ. Even as someone who interned at the DOJ last summer, I was surprised to see such a variety of experiences before starting work at the DOJ. The panel walked through their experiences applying to the DOJ Honors Program, shifting from private practice to the DOJ, becoming career employees versus political appointees, and transitioning from state government to federal government. The biggest takeaway was that there is no one clear path to the DOJ. However, what bonded all the panelists together was that their commitment to public service made them interested in the positions.

Similarly, the panelists emphasized the diversity of experiences while at the DOJ. While some panelists have more traditional prosecutorial roles where they are regularly in the courtroom, others handle a host of other duties such as advising, training, reviewing policy, investigating, and even speechwriting. Some are generalists that take all sorts of cases that land on their desk, while others have an area of expertise. There seems to be a position in the DOJ for every facet of the law and each skill set. Additionally, all the panelists emphasized that they got real, hands-on experience from their first day on the job.

Their parting advice especially rings true in the era of COVID-19. Flexibility is key, since you have no idea where your career is going to take you. As Annie Motto stated: “The best way to view yourself is kind of like a blank slate and that you are malleable.”

There are more upcoming Law Student Series events. The Careers in Tax Law Panel will take place on August 10, and the Hidden Jobs on Capitol Hill session will be on August 24. You can find information about the Law Student Series and these events at: https://www.fedbar.org/law-student-division/.

About the Author

Colby Moore is a J.D. candidate at Emory University School of Law and received his B.A. from Wake Forest University. He has served as the President of the Emory chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He is interested in practicing in white collar and anti-corruption law, and he has held internship positions with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, and a U.S. District Court Judge in the Northern District of Georgia.

About the FBA

Founded in 1920, the Federal Bar Association is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Our more than 16,000 members run the gamut of federal practice: attorneys practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors. Visit us at fedbar.org to learn more.