Academics

Duke in D.C.

Duke in D.C. gives students who are interested in public policy, public service, and careers in the public sector an opportunity to study federal policymaking firsthand, under the direction of Duke Law faculty and practitioners. The program has three components: a semester-long externship placement in a congressional or policymaking office; a weekly course taught by Duke Law faculty; and a substantial research project. The program is open to second- and third-year students, and a maximum of 14 credit hours may be earned.

Duke in D.C. takes advantage of Duke Law's proximity to Washington, D.C., and the extraordinary connections and expertise of Duke Law faculty. Duke Law faculty testify on Capitol Hill, advise policymakers, and research and write about federal policy and regulation in areas such as business and finance, intellectual property, environmental law, international law and human rights, national security, federal criminal and civil law, and more. » Read more

Spring 2010 Duke in D.C. Programs

The Federal Policy Process program will place 6-8 law students in externship placements on Capitol Hill in the personal offices of members of Congress, on the staffs of Senate and House Committees, or with organizations that engage in government liaison and lobbying work for non-profit and for-profit organizations. Prof. Chris Schroeder and Sen. Ted Kaufman will supervise the externship placements and teach the companion course on the Federal Policy Process. » Detailed information and application for Federal Policy Process

The Examining Federal Civil Rights Law & Policy program will place 6-8 law students in externship placements at the Department of Justice and with other civil rights organizations in the federal and non-profit sectors. Margaret Hu L'00, Special Policy Counsel for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, and Prof. Jeff Powell will supervise the externship placements and teach the companion course on Examining Federal Civil Rights Law & Policy. » Detailed information and application for Examining Federal Civil Rights Law & Policy

Fall 2009 Programs

The Fall 2009 Duke in D.C. program, supervised by Profs. James Cox and Lawrence Baxter, focuses on financial regulatory issues and topics stemming from the current credit crisis. There will be 6-12 upper class law students placed in externships on Capitol Hill in Washington. Placements may include congressional committees, regulatory agencies, self regulatory organizations and industry trade groups.

All students participating in Duke in D.C. also will take a three-credit course entitled, "Rethinking the Regulatory State," which will take place once a week. The course will focus on issues related to considering the strengths and weaknesses of regulatory agencies. Readings will include classic works on the historical origins of the independent regulatory agency; economic criticism of regulatory agencies, particularly public choice theory; politics in the creation, operation and termination of agencies; and the core principles of administrative law. Students will be required to prepare bi-weekly reports related to their ongoing experience at the externship as well as produce a research paper related to topics covered in the course.

Sample Externships (From Spring 2009)