The D.C. Semester in Practice Program allows law students to live and work full-time in the United States capital working at government agencies, nonprofits, or advocacy organizations while still enrolled full-time at Miami Law.
The program is taught by Theodore Massey III, J.D./LL.M. '12, who founded and was editor-in-chief of Miami Law's National Security and Armed Conflict Law Review and the founder and president of the law school's Military Law Society. Massey is presently a staff judge advocate for the commanding officer at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., and volunteers as general counsel and legal adviser for Patrol Base Abbate, a nonprofit organization with the immediate goal of providing veteran community connections to improve veteran mental health.
"D.C. is the perfect location for law students to obtain real-life experience with experts in their field of interest," said Massey, "D.C. has an abundance of externship opportunities, and it is these opportunities that I want to help Miami Law students tap into. Students can extern and be a part of a legal team that typically requires at least a decade of specialized legal experience. My goal is to grow the D.C. Semester in Practice Program by informing Miami law students of the various opportunities that exist in the area."
Massey was formerly a senior defense counsel for Mr. Ammar al-Baluchi on the Sept. 11 case involving the five alleged 9/11 plotters.
During the spring 2022 semester, Andrew Graykowski, J.D. '22, and third-year Jess Chiasson's externships in Washington, D.C. at the Department of Defense spring boarded their career interests in legal defense.
The program allows students to learn multiple dimensions of lawyering by integrating hands-on practice experience and academic inquiry. The program seeks to expose students to the landscape of legal practice within government and nonprofit agencies that operate in Washington, D.C.
Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, students do their fieldwork at approved externship placements in a diverse range of litigation, transactional, and policy settings. The course's classroom component focuses on legal skills, ethics, theory, and professional development to enhance the student's learning in the active practice setting.
Third-year law student Lucia Golletti spent last summer and the Fall 2022 semester in Washington, D.C., at the Department of Defense's Office of Military Commissions. She joined a joint military-civilian defense team (known as "Team AAA") representing one of five men charged in the Guantanamo Bay Military Commissions with conspiracy to commit the 9/11 attacks in United States v. Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, et al.
Golletti spent most of her time assisting Team AAA by conducting research (e.g., issues concerning torture, the law of war, and government misconduct) and participating in crucial witness interviews and client outreach/advocacy before The International Criminal Defence. She was also fortunate to draft significant portions of pretrial motions.
She also had the opportunity to travel to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to monitor pretrial hearings in the case of United States v. al Nashiri.
"I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this incredible team and hold a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for their human approach to the criminal justice system," Golletti said. "I am confident that I will be able to apply the knowledge and skills that I acquired in this externship in my future role as a criminal defense attorney."
Read more about Miami Law's Externship Programs
