Semester in D.C.: UC Davis Law Students Get an Unparalleled View into the Broader Impacts of the Law

The UCDC Law Program has been sending law students from across the UC system to Washington, D.C., for more than 15 years, offering them a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the city where federal law is made.

Nicole Lehtman directs the program. She is a former federal prosecutor who guides law students from five UC institutions — UC Davis, UCLA, UC Berkeley,  UC Irvine, and UC Law San Francisco — through a full-semester externship that combines hands-on legal work with a structured academic seminar. Here, she shares how UCDC Law offers such a distinctive opportunity.

How does the UCDC Law Program augment law school for the students who are fortunate enough to participate?

It’s a full-time, semester-long externship program based in Washington, D.C., that combines hands-on legal work with a structured academic experience. When they’re here, students extern 40 hours per week for 14 weeks while participating in a seminar about government lawyering, public policy, and professional development. UC Davis Law students often tell me that the experience is like nothing else. They get firsthand exposure to federal government, regulatory, legislative, and public interest work with organizations that can only be accessed by being physically present in Washington. The program is especially valuable for students who are interested in public service, government, regulatory practice, policy, or impact-driven careers, regardless of where they hope to practice geographically.

That must be competitive! What types of externship placements are available?

The program is selective, but it's also accessible. We welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and career interests. What we're looking for is curiosity about government or public interest law, professionalism, and genuine interest in experiential learning. Once they’re here, the range of their workplace opportunities is really broad. Students extern across the public and nonprofit sectors — executive branch agencies and White House counsel, congressional committees and legislative offices, public interest and advocacy organizations, like the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, National Women's Law Center, Legal Defense Fund, and CREW. We also place students with U.S. District Court and other federal courts, the Federal Public Defender and the Public Defender for the District of Columbia. Recent students have worked on civil rights, immigration, criminal justice reform, environmental regulation, consumer protection, national security, healthcare policy, and administrative law —  just to name a few. There's a lot out there.

Are there any additional fees for participating?

No, there are no separate costs to participate in the program: You pay tuition to UC Davis Law for the semester just like you would if you were on campus.

What is it like to live in Washington, D.C. for a semester?

Students love this part. D.C. is incredibly accessible — the Metro makes it easy to get around, and the city is clean, safe, and really walkable. But what students talk about most is how much there is to do. All the Smithsonian museums are free — the National Gallery, Natural History, African American History Museum, and so many others. Students tell me they spend weekends exploring museums, catching free concerts and events, and checking out the city's restaurant scene.

And if you're into the outdoors, there are great running and biking trails along the National Mall and Potomac River, hiking in Rock Creek Park, and easy weekend trips to places like Shenandoah or the Chesapeake Bay. New York and Philadelphia are also a short bus or train ride away!

You have probably heard a ton of reviews from former students in the program. What do they say about the professional and career benefits?

I hear from students all the time that the program directly influenced their post-grad paths — clerkships, fellowships, government positions, and public interest roles. And even for students who end up in private practice, the experience provides a valuable perspective. Plus, they get a real head start in building relationships with mentors and supervisors in D.C. Because the externship lasts a full semester — longer than a typical summer internship — they have time to develop deeper mentorships and get more comprehensive exposure to an organization's work. That's a real advantage. And here's something interesting: Several students have told me that keeping an open mind about placements — stepping outside their comfort zone or working in an unfamiliar area of law — ended up being one of the most valuable parts of their experience.

They also say to make the most of being in D.C. itself — attend networking events, lectures, and panels, explore the city, and take advantage of all the free, uniquely D.C. opportunities.

If you had to emphasize one key highlight of the program, what would it be?

The guest lecturers in the seminar are truly exceptional. People come in from across the D.C. legal community — I'm talking Supreme Court justices, sitting solicitors general from DOJ, senators, and former U.S. attorneys general. Students consistently tell me the quality of these guest lecturers is one of the highlights of the program. These are people at the absolute top of their fields, and they're generous with their time and insights. Students shouldn’t underestimate how valuable that access is.

Interested in learning more about the UCDC Law Program? Visit our webpage and follow @ucdc_law on Instagram.