Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
After leaving the Army in 2014, I knew I wanted to attend law school in order to pursue a life of continued public service. The REP-PP was a no brainer in working towards that goal. The REP-PP places you with experienced public servants that work to achieve policy for the greater good. From day one of law school, I knew I had to be a part of the REP-PP.

I am excited to be working with experienced public servants that can guide me through the policymaking process at the national level. I am also looking forward to learning how the priorities in D.C. differ and interact with those at the state level.

I hope to continue to build on my research and writing skills. I especially hope to learn how to effectively apply those skills in the policy-making arena. In the end, if I have a minor impact on a national policy during my externship, I will be more than satisfied.

This opportunity will hopefully allow me to interact with people from all across the country in D.C. and help me foster my communication and public relations skills, which is pivotal for lawyers serving the public. Additionally, I hope to develop an efficient work ethic that is consistent with the pace necessary to keep up in D.C.

By participating in the REP-PP, I know I will have to embody the Aggie Core Values. Simply by virtue of representing the law school in a capital city, I will have to undertake the great task of exemplifying, at the very least, leadership and selfless service. Moreover, in keeping with the requirements of the REP-PP, I will have to exercise, again, at the very least, excellence and integrity. In the end, the whole Aggie Core Values will be exercised throughout my placement, and continue upon my return to Texas.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goal for my semester in Washington, D.C. is to take advantage of the opportunity and learn more about our great country. With all of the museums, historical sites, and related experiences available in the D.C. area, I will be on the move exploring as much as I can. By the end of the semester I hope to have a more in-depth knowledge about our country’s founding, some cool trivia knowledge, and a greater appreciation for how great this country truly is.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
I wanted to participate in this program because I was eager to get more hands-on, practical experience in Austin, TX (the city I plan to work after I graduate) and in an area of law that interested me and that I could potentially pursue a career in. I also wanted to become involved in a policy-oriented externship because I haven’t yet done anything like this in my legal career, and I feel it will better prepare me for post-grad work and provide a new perspective.

To spend a semester in practice in Austin, TX, my favorite city, and to feel more like a working adult again, contributing to an organization and to something bigger.

I hope to improve upon my research and writing skills with projects and assignments from my supervisor, and hopefully get constructive feedback in return, helping me improve upon those skills. I also hope to learn more about the policy objectives of the Department of Agriculture and become more informed in general about the political process of the agency. I hope to improve upon my networking and interpersonal skills in networking settings and become more comfortable and confident “selling” myself and my skills to attorneys, while communicating what I am doing for the Department and why it matters.

I hope to learn more about the political process, which is something I lack experience in and deep knowledge of, and become more informed about the policy-making processes of our state government, which I think are both helpful skills for successful attorneys to possess. I hope to learn and understand how the Department of Agriculture impacts everything in Texas, and be able to convey that experience to future employers. I hope this experience will provide me a new perspective that will allow me to transition into practice more fluidly.

I think participation in this program expands the Aggie brand name and by participating to the best of my abilities, the Aggie core values will be demonstrated to those working around me. I hope to convey each of these values through my work product, my general attitude, and my commitment to the team I serve. Spending this semester focused on public policy for the community of not only Austin, but Texas as a whole, demonstrates selfless service to the State.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My goal is to take advantage of this position by making connections and developing a mentorship relationship with my supervisor. I hope to improve upon my interpersonal skills in an office setting and become a vital team member and a well-liked employee. I also want to transition into a work-life balance that will be similar to my lifestyle after the bar exam.

At Texas A&M School of Law, the Aggie Core Values represent character traits that we strive to possess throughout our legal educations, the hunt for our first post-bar positions, and eventually, throughout the remainder of our careers and lives. Excellence is an Aggie Core Value that resonates with me and one that I tried to embody during my externship with the Texas Department of Agriculture this semester. It’s something my parents instilled in me at an early age by always encouraging me to simply do my best. Excellence doesn’t mean being perfect, or being the best, or never failing. To me, it means trying my hardest and putting in all my effort to every task I attempt, and at the end of the day, being satisfied and proud of myself for doing all I could. 

Former Texas A&M President Dr. Robert Gates once said, “Excellence stems from a great sense of pride in who we are and what we believe in.” I think excellence is a personal standard that everyone holds for him or herself. It’s setting the bar for who you want to be and for how you want those around you to perceive you. At Texas A&M Law, that bar is set very high, and I went to Austin with the intention of proving that to everyone I worked with. 

For me, during my time with the Texas Department of Agriculture, excellence sometimes meant arriving at the office at 6:30 am when there was an important hearing at 8:00 am, just in case my bosses needed any last-minute help or preparation. Sometimes they didn’t, and I probably could have slept in a little longer and arrived at 8 am to simply attend the hearing, as I was instructed. But sometimes they did need help, and in those instances, I was there, even if it was as menial as printing extra copies of written testimony or talking points.

Excellence also meant asking for help when I needed it, like when I was trying to draft my first fiscal note and wasn’t sure what to do, or when I was writing bill analyses and could understand the language of the text, but not necessarily the impact it would have on the agency or consumers. During those times, I reached out to the heads of various programs to see if they would give me an overview of the program and walk through the bill with me to help me understand how each section harmed or helped the goal of the program. Other times, excellence meant spending a few extra minutes to proofread a document that Commissioner Miller would be sending with his name on it. 

None of those instances were examples of impossible tasks, but rather simple, small steps I took to ensure I was trying my best. In those moments, I know I represented myself and Texas A&M School of Law to the best of my abilities, and that is what excellence means to me.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
Before coming to law school, I had many internships in Austin working in political offices, campaigns, and organizations. I have always wanted to work in the political atmosphere, and participating in this program was a no-brainer! I could not be more excited to get back into the field.

When I worked in politics, I did not have very much legal knowledge and was only as good as the information I learned through news or other reputable sources. Now with the skills I learned in law school, I look forward to being able to see why and how laws are made, and have a more advanced role in law-making.

I hope to translate the legal writing skills I have learned that prepare you to be a law practitioner to a lawyer that writes and modifies laws.

Law school doesn’t directly prepare you as a student to work in public policy, but definitely gives you the tools. I would like to use everything I have learned through this experience to graduate as a lawyer fully prepared to begin working in public policy.

Participating in public policy requires you to have values and to stand up for something you believe in. You have to be loyal to your team, respect your peers, have selfless service to your government and the laws that make it, show leadership to those around you, and have integrity in your work. Most importantly, I want to show that I am a hard worker that provides excellent work product while demonstrating all of these values.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
This will be my first time applying all of these different skills into a specific format we haven’t necessarily learned directly in school. I most certainly will have to ask questions and learn as I go, but I hope that I will improve and hopefully even be good at the job I am given.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
Public policy has always been of interest to me, and I am exciting to observe policy making first hand. I felt this externship was something I could not pass up because of my longstanding interest in the political process.

I’m most excited to see where I am placed in this upcoming semester to get a better sense of the work I will be doing throughout the semester.

I hope to have a better understanding of work within a public policy framework. While I previously worked with a 501c(3) research institute in Austin, which gave good insight into the work required to prepare policy proposals, I would like to see the implementation side of things to have a more comprehensive understanding of the process.

I believe this opportunity will help me refine skills that will benefit me later in my legal career. From my experience thus far, working in public policy is an excellent way to develop you interpersonal and research skills. Moreover, working in government gives you a much more holistic view of how the statutes and evolution of relevant case law we study actually comes into being.

I believe working in REP-PP demonstrates all of the Aggie Core Values. For example, being able to work in such a prestigious program portrays excellence. I believe while working in the public sector, it is important to demonstrate integrity in all the work that you do, and I believe it also shows some amount of selfless service that you are willing to do the work that is meant to support the public as a whole.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goals are to meet as many new people as possible and enjoy my work throughout the semester. If I can accomplish those two goals, I believe this program will be very successful for my personal development.

During my externship experience I have had the opportunity to attend multiple classes where our professor has invited speakers to come discuss their job and their experience working in and around the Capitol. One of the speakers that I had the opportunity to speak with is the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (“TDLR”), Bryan Francis.

Mr. Francis spoke to us about how his history of working in different state agencies and how it led him into the position he now holds. As executive director, Mr. Francis spends a good portion of his time during the legislative session appearing before the legislature and speaking to members about what TDLR is doing and what it plans on doing in the future.

TDLR is a large state agency that is very well run. In fact, it is so well run that the legislature has often taken the functions of other agencies and given them to TDLR because they trust them to run more efficiently.

Mr. Francis spoke to us about the importance of leadership in a large state agency and the type of leader that he tries to be. He is very personable and friendly and has a lot of experience working in Texas agencies.

This session, Texas is focusing on combatting human trafficking. The Governor, the Legislature, and different state agencies like TDLR are working on different ways to stop human trafficking in Texas. TDLR has a unique task because of the different industries they license like massage parlors and nail salons. These two industries experience more human trafficking than many others, and TDLR is working on combatting the problem using its agents and required signage that it can require these businesses to have displayed.

As executive director, Mr. Francis has testified before the Texas Senate Finance Committee and asked for increased funding to fight human trafficking where they can. These requests have been well ​received and the legislature is more than willing to allocate more funding for TDLR to combat these unlawful practices.

While many agencies are having their funding cut, TDLR has shown the legislature that it is worthy of more taxpayer money to fight for the interests of Texas, and Mr. Francis has done a good job telling the legislature how it is leading the fight against human trafficking.

Mr. Francis is a great example of a leader and his dedication to his organization and employees demonstrates the Aggie Core Value of leadership.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
Politics and policymaking has always been a passion of mine. It provides us with concrete ways to better all of our lives through evaluating and advocating for ideas. The REP-PP gives me the opportunity to explore the intersection of law and policy in practice.

I am very excited to spend some time living in the capital and meeting many of the giants of the fields in which I am interested. In another life I would have gone to grad school for a Master's in Public Policy; this program not only fills that interest, but it does so in the broader context of a legal education, giving me the best of both worlds.

I hope to learn effective evaluation skills—what to look for in developing good policy and how to go about looking for it. Developing my research and writing skills is what I plan to emphasize the most because these skills translate across every field. I also hope to learn a lot about networking and developing relationships during my time in D.C.

I think the REP-PP will help me to understand all sides of an issue from the perspectives of the various stakeholders and decision-makers involved. I think it will sharpen my analytical skillset. And I believe REP-PP will most assuredly teach me how to interact with and collaborate with a wide range of professionals and interested parties in any given issue.

REP-PP in D.C. will require faithful adherence to all of the Aggie Core Values, but most of all, the program demonstrates a commitment to leadership. The program teaches us how to function within the policy-making spheres of Austin and D.C., where some of the most effective and important leaders in the country operate. Quite often, law and policy necessarily intersect in a lawyer's practice. Committing to gaining core competencies in policy-making is a valuable asset for any lawyer, and better equips him to best serve his clients.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
I would like to meet as many elected officials from Texas as I can, explore D.C. and make it my home as much as possible.

In my view, integrity is wholeness. It is our faithfulness to the person who we want to be. We find integrity in those moments of sincerity, when we choose the discomfort of principled action over the ease of acquiescence. Those moments may abundantly fill our daily lives, or they may appear only rarely—the state of our own fidelity to our ideal self is something only we can know. Perhaps we sometimes ignore this knowledge, a skill developed after too many repeated failures to live up to our own image of who we could be: a virtuous person. A person of courage and restraint, generous of spirit and material. Everyone wants to be a good person, and everyone knows when their actions do not reconcile with “goodness.”

In the practice of law, I believe the lawyer who strives daily to be faithful to his principles is a happier person, and a better lawyer. He may still be stressed, busy, and tired. He still faces the struggles of his profession. But a lawyer who reflects on his principles often and lives with deliberation and restraint, governed by his principles, is a lawyer who has integrity. We as lawyers have volunteered to take on the honorable task of serving others as their representatives. That is why we must take even more care to choose the discomfort of privileged action. That is why we must constantly reject the ease of acquiescence. Because we owe our integrity to more than just ourselves. We owe it to each person we represent, as they have empowered us to act in their stead and for their best interests. That same responsibility rests in the political representatives of our nation, many of whom are also lawyers.

The formation that I feel taking place at this externship was exactly what I was hoping to find when I first expressed interest in the REP-PP. I wanted to be on-site with the leaders of current political thought, of politics, and of the country. I especially wanted to spend time with like-minded people, people who were engaged in the philosophy and the practice of politics and policy, who also held the same values I hold. My placement with the Republican Study Committee certainly accomplished this. There are plenty of members of the RSC, the bastion of the conservative movement in the House, who do not think of conservatism in the same way that I do. I came to Washington thinking of the RSC membership as a homogenously aligned coalition but that is far from the case. And that is a good thing. Seeing the competing visions of different members or groups within the RSC has helped me encounter new ideas, examine their merits, and decide whether I agree and why. A similar process goes on with all members of Congress and their staff, it is how we move forward together into the future.

I have looked at my placement as an opportunity to continue refining my own perspective by challenging, and working through, the internal consistency or logic of my views. For me, the most satisfying discoveries come from encountering a modern thought, concept, or doctrine, and following that idea back to its roots. Breaking down current perspectives in terms of their historical, political, and philosophical origins helps me to make sense of the world I live in. Recently, and especially during this externship, I have sensed a more cohesive world-view taking shape for me. I have tried to make it a point to search out experts, leaders, and scholars while here—whether I simply read some of their ideas, meet and speak with them in person, or hear of them for the first time, this effort has embodied my process of encounter, examination, and decision.

Check back soon to meet Ashley.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
The opportunity to see the actual process of both legislation and regulation will be invaluable, as well as the opportunities that may come along just by virtue of being in our nation's capital.

To get to experience something closer to the actual practice of law, and to gain experience working on water in the national, and possibly the international, arena.

I hope to gain a better understanding of how the federal government actually works, and to be able to navigate the agencies that will affect so many different areas of water law.

I think learning how to practice and be a lawyer in a place like D.C. will prepare me to not only enter the practice confidently, but with a knowledge of how people from all over the country participate in our legal system.

Simply being able to represent Texas A&M in Washington D.C. will allow me to exemplify the Aggie Core Values as I show my supervisor and peers what it means to be an Aggie. Being chosen to participate in the REP-PP shows that I not only have the desire to be excellent, to lead, and to act in service in the capital,but also that the program director believes that I have integrity, respect, and am loyal, and that I will exemplify these values in Washington D.C.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
To explore the city, squeeze as much enjoyment and culture out of the city as I can, and to learn a lot about American and world history from the various museums throughout the city.

Integrity may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of our nation's capital. However, in my time in Washington D.C. - and my placement in the Residency Externship Program in Public Policy - I have found that the lack of integrity here is a misconception, that, if not for the men and women in this town who continue to do their jobs for the country or their clients, the United States would truly run as poorly as it is sometimes portrayed.

In my time at Cornerstone Government Affairs I have watched men and women do their jobs to the best of their abilities, to serve their clients interests in the best way possible without misrepresenting the facts, and without compromising their own beliefs. I don’t know everyone that I work with very well, but the office is very informal and every now and then political topics will spark conversations and debates. Despite differing opinions, there is never any question of anyone’s dedication to what is best for the client’s interests.

While I think that integrity has a much larger meaning in the world outside of the professional setting, the professional setting is a prime example of how "Character is Destiny."

Watching these men and women do their jobs has shown me that your quality of integrity determines your destiny in the workplace, as they conduct themselves with integrity now, I know they conducted themselves with that same dedication to excellence and to what they hold important in the jobs that have led them to work for one of the most well regarded government affairs firms in D.C.

The true lesson that I have learned in my time in D.C., and in my placement, is that you can do anything, even work for a lobbying firm, with integrity. I may have goals to work in environmental law and possibly save the world, but the various employers and jobs that I have along the way may not share those same goals, and so I plan to have integrity in every position and do my job to the best of my abilities.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
Primarily, every lawyer from whom I sought advice said that work experience distinguishes one job applicant from others. This experience will distinguish me from other candidates who do not have the same work experience shaping public policy. Additionally, I've always been interested in political discourse, dialogue, and world events.

I am excited to use my legal education to make Texas more prosperous. Additionally, I am excited to visit the small Catholic school which I worked at before I came to Law School: Cathedral School of Saint Mary.

I want to learn negotiating and lobbying skills. I also want to forge career connections to make me a valuable prospective employee.

Client advocacy starts not in the judiciary, but in the legislature. I want to affect legal policy in that sphere so that I can maximize my lawyering capital within the courtroom. Concise and effective communication is critical to succeeding in both spheres.

• Excellence - Changing the world or one's own town is literally what Aggie Lawyers are called to do, and this opportunity is how I will accomplish that mission.
• Integrity - I'm a passionate person in politics and, like all voters, I'm not impressed when politicians lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate others that do. Now I get to test whether I can rise above that and help raise (or restore) the norms.
• Leadership - Sometimes leaders help others lead, so every policy advisor is a leader by empowering other leaders.
• Loyalty - Having once lived there, I'd say that wearing the Maroon and White anywhere in Austin demonstrates loyalty :)
• Respect - Whatever legal capacity I work in, every first-impression I want to convey is respect for whomever I meet and work for; especially if they might disagree or require persuading with my organization's policy.
• Selfless Service - Lawyers are officers of the court, stewards of the law, servants of their clients, and providers for their families. This role with the state government will help me balance all four.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
I want to master the art of the elevator pitch, stay fit, eat well, and keep up with studying for the bar exam.

I learned about the Aggie Core Values only after entering the Texas A&M University School of Law. The process was easy because all I did was put names to the core values that I already carried since childhood. My parents raised me to earn the respect of others. To earn someone’s respect, I was told that I must first give that respect.

The most meaningful experience I’ve had with respect comes from the policy advisors I work with. Some are attorneys, many are not; but they are all highly respected experts in certain policy fields. Even after three years of law school, it is easy to feel clueless around them. However, I found that after I show some respect, I get a lot back in return from everyone I work with. It’s as easy as holding the door open for someone, contributing to the office coffee fund, or waiting your turn. It’s as hard as working late to help someone catch up on sixty-something bills. In any case, I respect what I do enough to work as hard, efficiently, and to the highest degree of excellence that I can. When people see that, I’ve noticed that they treat me with the respect of a lawyer.

Despite being located in a major metropolitan city, the legislative community is extremely small. Like the legal community, your reputation matters. Completely unlike political opposition, disrespect for your political opponents or their special-interest constituents is the fastest way to become politically ostracized. I’m confident that my professional reputation will continue earning me, and my organization, the desired respect as long as I respect myself enough to upkeep its merits.

Unlike politics at a national scale, Texas politics are built on civility and respectful behavior between the branches of government, between their sub-units, and between the political parties that dominate them. After only a month, I have learned that Texas is not a state where the majority and minority parties disrespect each other.

Here in the Office of the Governor, I work with some of the most well respected policy advisors in the nation. We make a point to reach out to counterparts in the Legislature and other executive offices for advice, assistance, and to convey respect. Whether or not we agree about the legal principles, we respect each other’s viewpoints. I have seen that respect flow both ways every day.

After this job, I will have a bar exam to study for. I need to summon the strength, endurance, and respect for that trial between graduation day and August. But why wait until graduation? I respect myself more than that, so I study bar exam questions and outlines every other night while working at this job. Being an Aggie lawyer-in-training is not about choosing when to show respect or to whom. Instead, we owe it to our family, friends, frenemies, colleagues, and to ourselves.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
It is an exciting opportunity to work in D.C. and work for a federal agency.

Developing experience in regulatory or non-litigation arenas and developing contact fields I'm interested in. I am also really excited to work in D.C. because it is a city filled with culture, museums, and history.

Networking, regulatory drafting, or agency-side litigation (e.x. OIG Medicare/Medicaid fraud prosecution).

I want to develop practical experience in more health law areas such as regulatory compliance, policy drafting, etc. I also want more experience working in the government directing policy goals. While in government I want to explore the "inside" perspective of the healthcare industry.

I think participation demonstrates three core values: (1) excellence, (2) leadership, and (3) selfless service, because each value reflects the work and skill necessary to effectuate valuable change in society.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
If I don't have a job by the end of Fall semester, I hope to lock one down before graduation.

At Texas A&M University School of Law, our core values unite every Aggie and those values help guide our decision-making process. One of our values is excellence. Every Aggie lawyer understands the importance of excellence because it drives us to achieve the impossible, represent our clients to the best of our ability, and solve problems when others cannot. This semester I was guided by leaders who exemplify excellence.

As a member of the Public Policy Externship Program in Washington D.C., I worked for Senator Patty Murray from Washington State. She serves as the ranking member on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee and is the third ranking democrat in the Senate. Working in the Senate provides ample opportunity to meet individuals who demonstrate excellence. For example, every member of the staff works incredible hours sifting information, compiling solutions, and meeting stakeholders to draft a legislative answer to problems.

One member working in the Pension section guides my understanding of excellence because of her mastery of the pension systems. Working with her allowed me to expand my understanding of excellence because I learned how representatives build coalitions, how they strategize on legislation, and how they respond to constituent needs.

Yet, excellence permeates every corner of the Senate, each briefing was filled with exceptional presenters. For example, I attended a briefing hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) on some emerging problems with international treaties and space junk. The presenters included an astronaut, a law firm specializing in “space law,” and an engineer from Stanford (who said he appreciated the work we do at Texas A&M).

In another instance, I attended a hearing on drug pricing. While there, I met a lobbyist from the American College of Surgeons, who developed into a significant contact for me in my burgeoning career. He told me about his journey working with the hill for healthcare providers and achieving the impossible. Although he started as history teacher, he eventually left and began working on the hill. After working hard, he found a job at the specialty healthcare provider and began lobbying for them. He began moving up between organizations because of his ability to network. He taught me the how to network because he hopes to share that knowledge and skill.

This brings me to the core of excellence—it is guided by our other values. An Aggie is only excellent when we selfless serve others, guiding and helping. An Aggie is excellent when she exemplified integrity. An Aggie is excellent when she leads with the integrity and selfless service. An Aggie is excellent when she respects others and learns from them. An Aggie is excellent when she is loyal to her team, community, and country.