PUBLISHED:September 17, 2010

Patrick Duggan JD/MA '10 enters DOJ Honors Program

Patrick Duggan JD/MA ’10 was accepted into the Department of Justice’s highly competitive Honors Program and will join the Environment and Natural Resources Division in late September. Duggan worked as an environmental consultant before pursing a dual JD and Master’s in Environmental Policy at Duke.

“I came to law school specifically to study environmental law,” Duggan said. “Being accepted into this program validated my decision to come to here.”

The Honors Program is the only means of entry to the DOJ for new law graduates. According to its website, the program selects employees based on academic achievement, participation in a journal or moot court competitions, legal aid and clinical experience, summer or part-time legal employment, and other factors — specialized academic studies or academic degrees, work experience, and extracurricular activities — related to the work of the department.

“Duke is small and if you really have a passion for something, you can own it,” said Duggan, who led the Environmental Law Society for two years, served as student liaison to the Energy Subcommittee of Duke’s university-wide Sustainability Committee, and served as editor in chief of the Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum.

In addition, Duggan participated in the Environmental Law and Policy Clinic for a year, gaining experience he believes was critical to his acceptance into the program.

Nicholas DiMascio ’07 has also been accepted to the DOJ Honors program for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.