Temple Law School is located a little over two hours north of Washington, DC. For our students who are interested in public policy, public service, and public interest work, Washington provides an excellent setting to explore the relationship between law, public policy, and politics at the federal level. It also offers a strong market for legal internships that reflect a broad range of policy interests.
Summer in Washington
During their first summer in Washington, D.C., students receive credit for two separate courses: Institutional Decision Making and Law & Public Policy I. Both courses are taught by Professor Knauer.
Institutional Decision Making – 3 credits
The course work presents a thematic approach to current issues in Law & Public Policy. The student-centered nature of the Program ensures that the course material is always evolving to reflect current hot topics. Organized through the lens of comparative institutional analysis, Scholars consider the roles and competencies of different institutions, including the executive, the legislature, the judiciary, the market, and the press. In past years we have examined the executive power of the Presidency, the federal war on drugs, consumer financial protection, health care reform, LGBT rights, religious liberties, and immigration.
Law & Public Policy I – 3 credits
Each Scholar is required to write a policy paper or white paper on a point of policy that includes tangible suggestions for reform. Scholars present their policy proposals at a formal briefing before their colleagues. The briefings are videotaped for the purpose of critique and self-reflection. The papers help the Scholars to develop an area of expertise and serve as excellent writing samples. The vast majority of our Scholars have presented their policy papers at academic conferences. They have been very successful publishing their papers and writing numerous shorter spin offs in the form of op-ed pieces and blogposts. Examples of the policy papers are available here and examples of op-ed pieces and blogposts are available here.
Semester in Washington
Scholars have the option of spending their last semester of law school in Washington, DC. Scholars work full-time at an internship while taking the Law & Public Policy Colloquium.
Law & Public Policy Colloquium – 3 credits
Designed as a capstone seminar, the course addresses issues of professionalism and leadership. It also includes three in-depth segments taught by actual policymakers who provide a practice perspective on different areas of policy work. These areas have included foreign policy and economic sanctions, legislative drafting, consumer financial protections, and LGBT rights. The course is taught and supervised by Professor Knauer.
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