A full-time, ten-week summer fellowship is available in the Washington, D.C., office of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (UO Law ’83). This fellowship is part of the Wayne Morse Center's Law Fellows program. 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. Offices in the House of Representatives 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.

Compensation:  The fellow will receive a total of $12,500. The Wayne Morse Center will provide a $2,500 stipend in late May, which will go into the fellow’s UO student account and from which any monies owed the University will be deducted. At the end of each calendar month the fellow will be paid $4,000 on a pro-rated basis through congressional payroll, which is taxable income. 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. The fellow will determine start and end dates with the Congresswoman's staff.

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 her committee assignments on education and workforce, and science, space, and technology. 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

Deadline: Tuesday, January 21 by 5 p.m.
Through DuckWorks, submit the following:

1. Cover letter addressed to Rachael Bornstein, Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Bonamici, c/o Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, 1515 Agate Street, Eugene, OR 97403
2. Resumé – including both your school and non-UO email addresses
3. Most recent transcript – official is great, unofficial works as well
4. List of three references. Include:
   • Reference’s name, organization and title, phone number, and email address. Please check that the phone numbers and email addresses are current.
   • Specify how you know the reference; for example, if they supervised you at work or in an internship, the name of their class(es) you were enrolled in, etc.
   • How long you have known them.

We will notify finalists as quickly as possible.

Interviews with Rep. Bonamici's chief of staff, Rachael Bornstein, will take place virtually in late January or early February.

Questions? First visit the Wayne Morse Center's Law Fellowships page, which includes an FAQ. If you need further information, contact Wayne Morse Center Co-Director Rebecca Dinwoodie, JD, rcd@uoregon.edu

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

Past fellows in this office: Chelsea Alatriste Martinez (2024), Andrea Welsh (2023), Ellen McKean (2022), Sarah Davies Breen (2021)