Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
I decided to participate in the REP-PP because I had such a great time in DC this summer when I Interned here for the first time. I also had an opportunity at a place that I was really excited about, so there was hardly a decision to make!

I am most excited to learn what the private side of policy looks like. I have gotten to experience what is like working in a public office where you serve the constituents, so it will be Interesting to see what it Is like to work in a policy space while serving private clients.

This will expose me to different roles for lawyers as well as legal/lawmaking processes that It Is hard to truly understand and appreciate while only reading about them in a textbook.

My participation in the REP-PP Is a demonstration of selfless service in my opinion. I am putting myself in position to better understand how policy truly takes place. Public policy Is something that can Impact everyone, so I hope that something I learned through this program can be utilized in service of others someday.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goals are to learn as much as I can and enjoy this unique experience. I will never have an opportunity like this again. I want to look back on this experience and be able to recall learning moments as well as special memories that I could only make in the historical and social city that our nation's capital Is.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
I chose to attend Texas A&M School of Law primarily because of the Residency Externship Program for Public Policy and the opportunity to spend time in Washington D.C. I came to law school to prepare for a career in public policy, and the REP-PP program stood out as the experience to do that. I had previously worked at the Texas Legislature in Austin at the State House, and wanted to explore working in the Federal Government as well as in a different branch, the Executive. The REP-PP has given me the chance to do just that with the independent agency, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

During my externship through REP-PP, I am excited to grow as a law student and start building a legal career. I am excited to gain experiential skills, get out of the classroom, and learn from practice. I am excited to learn about the ins and outs of the Federal Government, learn how State and Federal Governments can work together, and find my role within it.

I will develop as a lawyer by gaining skills in facilitation, and negotiation. I will learn how to unite people’s interests and build consensus. I will learn about how policy is made and implemented within the Executive branch, and the various ways in which lawyers work within the Legislative branch. Most importantly, I will gain confidence in my skills and abilities as a legal mind.

My participation in the REP-PP demonstrates selfless service, especially with my placement at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an agency that provides mediation and conflict management services to the government, private sector, and individuals alike, as well as education opportunities in conflict management skills. My participation and that of my peers also demonstrate excellence and leadership as we strike out on our own in D.C., and represent Texas A&M School of Law in the Nation’s, and Texas’ Capital cities. 

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goals for this semester in the REP-PP include doing a good job in my placement, expanding my understanding of conflict management and Alternative Dispute Resolution, building my network, visiting as many museums as possible, and taking advantage of living on the east coast.

Rowan's Blog

I've been in Washington D.C., with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) through the Residency Externship Program in Public Policy (REP-PP) at Texas A&M School of Law for a month and I've already grown as a student and future Aggie Lawyer. I've seen new ways of practicing law and making public policy and it excites me. From a guest speaker, TAMU Law alum, Tom Connally using his law degree in the United States Congress to Commissioners at the FMCS facilitating Negotiated Rulemaking proceedings, ideas for my future have blossomed. A recurring theme has emerged, a piece of wisdom everyone drops; Integrity. Integrity is imperative to build trust in law, mediation, public policy, and networking alike. Together integrity and trust are the backbone of strong relationships and a positive reputation.

Integrity has an important place in the practice of law and the public policy process. It's a value that sometimes feels lost in both, which is why it is so important for Aggie Lawyers to embody it. To me, integrity means having values and living up to them. Integrity is a moral compass, a way to ensure I am living up to the kind of person I want to be.

Integrity has a big role at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. As facilitators of mediations and collective bargaining agreements, commissioners see people at their most vulnerable, yet they are required to be neutral and objective. Maintaining neutrality and objectivity is necessary for all parties to feel as if they are heard and for them to build a consensus; mediators have to uphold those principles through integrity. Integrity in the process is what keeps mediation functioning. There is no success in conflict management without integrity.

Integrity is also important in the making of public policy and working for causes you support. As discussed in our Seminar class, The Lawyer in Government, your resume follows you so you better feel good about what's on it. I am inspired by my peers in the REP-PP and their projects. Each passionately fighting for causes to which they are connected, from animal welfare to the integration of cryptocurrency into the US economy and water development.

Integrity is additionally important when navigating networking and professional opportunities because you never know when you might see someone you've previously met, and when you might need something from them. You want them not only to say nice things about you, but you want them to be able to count on you and know that you represent what you say - that only happens with integrity.

I have more time left in D.C. and a lot more to learn. I can't wait to see what else the practice of law and public policy has to bring me, and to find my place in it.