Students in the General Assembly
One of the unique benefits of going to law school in Richmond is the opportunity to be involved with the General Assembly. This is the first of a three part series looking at different students’ experiences working in and with the Commonwealth’s legislature.
“The building is humming with the buzz of negotiations, the click-clack of heels on the lobby floor, questions bouncing between committee members, and the almost tangible anticipation as bills pass and die,” says Christina Stine (L ’15). “It’s exhilarating to be part of it all.” For Stine and Cassie Powell (L ’16), the General Assembly experience is one in the trenches, as they intern for Senator John Watkins (R) and Delegate Betsy Carr (D), respectively. Stine is also interning with lobbyist Anne Leigh Kerr, and Samantha Sedivy (L ’16) is interning with Troutman Sanders after three terms with Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R).
Powell’s GA experience was born out of a combination of degree requirements and prior experiences. She is pursuing a dual degree: both a JD from Richmond and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Virginia Commonwealth University. “For the MSW, I have to do a certain number of hours in the field, and I receive course credit through the VCU MSW program” she explained. “I asked to be given a policy internship. I interned in the General Assembly last year for the Virginia Poverty Law Center and really loved it.” Once her request was approved, she interviewed with Delegate Carr, and was offered a year-long placement, which began in August 2014.
Stine carved her own path to the Senate floor. “I emailed Senator Watkins’ office and asked if I could help at the General Assembly,” she said. “His legislative aides interviewed and hired me as an unpaid intern during the 2014 session and, to my delight, they asked me back for this term.” Stine’s internship with Kerr also came about from her own ingenuity. “I met Ms. Kerr through a blind email as well,” she recalled. “I asked to meet her for coffee so I could pick her brain about her career as a lawyer-lobbyist. When I asked her for advice on what else I could do, she asked if I would like to come work for her during the session.”
Sedivy had several years of experience working for a legislator, so she decided to explore the GA from a different angle by interning at Troutman Sanders. “Although I have interacted with lobbyists in my position as a legislative aide, I have always worked for a legislator,” she explained. “Now I will be able to learn more about how a lobbying firm operates behind the scenes.” Sedivy is also looking forward to a different type of work during this GA session. “I’ll be working for a private lobbying firm doing legislative research and providing client support,” she said. “I’m looking forward to experiencing the General Assembly session from a new perspective.” Sedivy’s involvement in the GA also extends to Richmond Law, where she was just selected as the General Assembly and Manuscripts Editor for the Journal of Law and the Public Interest (JOLPI). “I’ll be chiefly responsible for finding authors for JOLPI’s annual General Assembly edition,” she explained. “I’m pretty excited to be hanging around the General Assembly this year because it will help me find some articles to fill next year’s GA journal.”
It would be easy to assume that an internship with the GA means that all three women want to go into politics once they graduate, but their career goals are as different as their experiences. Powell has no desire to be a legislator, but does “hope to have a career lobbying for policies that would positively impact children and people living in poverty.” Sedivy, on the other hand, looks forward to running for office. “I currently serve as the Chair of the Greater Richmond Young Republicans and the Vice Chair for Membership of the Richmond Republican Committee,” she said. “I’m very passionate about politics and the legislative process, so I would hope to translate those interests into a run for office.” Stine doesn’t think that she wants to throw her hat into the ring, but isn’t closing the door on the idea. “At this point I’d prefer to be on the lobbying side,” she reflected. “But never say never.”
Ultimately, the chance to be involved with a session of the General Assembly presents an incredible opportunity and opens up a whole new world of career opportunities outside of the traditional firm or corporate structure. “A word of advice to my fellow law students,” said Stine. “Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to your career search. The skills you learn as a law student are applicable to a number of professional areas. Use that to your advantage, market yourself well, network, and go after what you want.”