Law School: George Mason University – Antonin Scalia Law School

Expected Graduation: 2022

Hometown: Grass Valley, CA

Hobbies: Hiking, cooking, reading

What were your duties as an NCLA intern? I researched and edited a memorandum of law and a reply brief in the Fifth Circuit. Analyzed individual cases to determine if they would be a potential client. Researched cases for a law review article for a litigator. Assessed different circuits holdings on agency guidance documents regarding tax bans. Wrote a memo on Rule 60(b)(5) applicability.

What did you most enjoy about your internship? I enjoyed the opportunity to participate in lawsuits on behalf of individuals who could not have combatted the administrative state on their own. I also liked hearing about the on-the-ground experience from litigators in the office, board members, and others in the movement. Plus, the regular outings and events hosted in and outside of the office was also a major perk.

What interesting thing(s) did you learn about Administrative Law? I liked learning about the different litigation strategies that could be utilized against regulatory bodies (such as attacking the formation of the rule, utilizing FOIAs for discovery, or the proper appointment of the adjudicator). When you take an administrative law class, they provide you with all the relevant information, but NCLA helps to fill in the gaps with the practical knowledge on how to fight against restrictive regulations and powerful government entities.

How might you use what you’ve learned later in your professional career? What I have learned from the work I did on the Novinger case has helped me to look outside of the box. It’s one thing to know and understand the law, but it is wholly other to distinguishing case law and precedent in many different circuits. Finding those distinctions takes time and effort to go beyond the problem at hand and to think of creative solutions.

Any advice for other students who want to intern at NCLA in the future? I would advise that students take the opportunity to assist with cases you know little to nothing about. It may be out of your comfort zone, but it will push you to be a better researcher and writer. Since that is the bulk of the work any attorney will do, it’s best to do it in an environment where you will receive friendly support.