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.

Download the Duke in DC brochure

Securing an Externship Placement for Duke in D.C.

Students are encouraged to seek out and secure their own externship placements for participation in Duke in D.C., so as to target their specific interests and goals with regard to skills practice and professional development. 

Resources for externship placement-seeking for regulatory law experiences include:

• The Government Honors & Internship Handbook, 2012-2013 (for login/password, ask Dean Bart)
• The USAjobs.gov Student Jobs site
• Federal Agency job/internship information sites, including:
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Human Capital
  • Council on Environmental Quality
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Student Programs
  • US Department of Labor, Office of Administration and Management
  • US Department of Justice
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • US Department of Energy
  • US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Human Resources
  • US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Legal Counsel
  • US Department of Homeland Security, Office of the General Counsel
  • US Department of Transportation
  • US Department of Commerce, Office of General Counsel
  • US Securities and Exchange Commission
  • many, many others ... 

Resources for externship placement-seeking for federal policymaking experiences include:

• The 2013 Public Policy Handbook (for login/password, ask Dean Bart)
• The Government Honors & Internship Handbook, 2012-2013 (for login/password, ask Dean Bart)
• The USAjobs.gov Student Jobs site
• Congressional Committee internships (some examples include):
• US Senate Comm. on Foreign Relations
• US Senate Comm. on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
• US Senate Comm. on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
• US Senate Comm. on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
• House Comm. on Education & Labor
• House Comm. on Energy and Commerce
• House Comm. on the Judiciary
• House Comm. on Oversight and Government Reform
• House Comm. on Science and Technology
• House Comm. on Ways and Means
• Externship (internship) opportunities on Capitol Hill sometimes are advertised on the Roll Call or Hill Zoo websites.
• Students also are encouraged to contact their own Congressional representatives (or the representatives of where your parents live/you used to live) in order to inquire about externship opportunities with individual members' offices: Senate Member List and House Member List