Wayne Morse Legal Fellow in Rep. Bonamici’s Washington, D.C., Office

A full-time, ten-week summer fellowship is available in the Washington, D.C., office of Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (UO Law ’83). This fellowship is part of the Law Fellows program of UO’s Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics (waynemorsecenter.uoregon.edu). Only University of  Oregon School of Law students pursuing a J.D. may apply.

About the Position

Title: Wayne Morse Legal Fellow

Location: Washington, D.C. (Note: House offices are cramped and noisy places. When on Capitol Hill, the fellow will be working in a space that will be shared with interns and is not free from distraction. If the fellow has assignments that require concentration or quiet, they can do that work remotely. The fellow will have a permanent desk space beginning in mid-July.)

Salary: The fellow will receive a total of at least $8,750, which will come from two sources: the UO’s Wayne Morse Center, and congressional payroll. At the end of May, the fellow will receive a stipend of $2,500 from the Wayne Morse Center. The remaining salary, which depends on the upcoming congressional budget, will be paid on a prorated basis at the end of each calendar month in which the fellow works. Rep. Bonamici’s office also offers reimbursement for the fellow’s use of public transit up to $250 per month.

Description:  Full-time summer fellowship for 1L or 2L; 10 weeks. 

Under the supervision of the Congresswoman, Chief of Staff, and Legislative Director & Counsel, and in coordination with the legislative and outreach staff both in D.C. and Oregon, the fellow will be an active participant in Rep. Bonamici’s policy team. The position will entail reviewing testimony, legislative history and related documents, preparing for committee hearings, staffing the Congresswoman at hearings and events, preparing written remarks, and taking meetings on her behalf. It may involve research related to education or climate / science policy. Fellows are encouraged share with staff the areas of interest on which they would like to focus. The fellow should expect to develop greater understanding of the legislative process in general and the operations of a congressional office, congressional committees, and the U.S. House of Representatives as a whole. The job is structured so the student will be exposed to high-level congressional policy work in a team environment.

Qualifications:  Strong research, writing, and organizational skills. Ideal candidate will be able to review large amounts of information, identify important elements, and summarize efficiently. The ability to understand and follow instructions is very important. Understanding of the legislative process is useful.

Expectations and opportunities: 

  • As a condition of the fellowship award, the fellow must agree to return and continue progress toward a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law. 
  • Incoming Wayne Morse Law Fellows attend an orientation lunch in the spring. At the end of the summer, each fellow will submit a short report about their experience. When fall term begins, Law Fellows gather over lunch to debrief and share what they learned with one another. 
  • Fellows are invited to participate in the life of the Wayne Morse Center during and after their fellowship. This includes public lectures and panels (usually held in the law school), occasional lunches and receptions with speakers, and one-on-one mentoring.
  • If asked, Law Fellows are expected to attend a gathering with donors to the Wayne Morse Center and share about their fellowship experiences.

How to Apply

By Monday, January 29 at noon, email a single PDF document that includes a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, and list of three references to the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics at waynemorsecenter@uoregon.edu. 

  • Address cover letter to Rachael Bornstein, Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Bonamici

    c/o Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, 1515 Agate Street, Eugene, OR 97403.

  • Include a home (non-UO) email address on your resume.
  • Please check that the phone numbers and email addresses of references are current.

      We will notify finalists as quickly as possible. Interviews will take place in early to mid-February.

Questions? Please contact Wayne Morse Center Co-director Rebecca Dinwoodie, JD, rcd@uoregon.edu 

UO Law grads in this office: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (’83)

Past fellows in this office: Andrea Welsh (2023), Ellen McKean (2022), Sarah Davies Breen (2021)