A paid full-time, ten-week summer fellowship is available in the Office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (UO Law ‘74). This fellowship was developed by the University of Oregon School of Law and the Office of Senator Wyden in cooperation with the Wayne Morse Center. It is part of the Wayne Morse Law Fellows program.
Only UO Law 1Ls and 2Ls may apply. It is an exceptional opportunity for students interested in public service and in gaining knowledge of the legislative process.
About the position
Title: Wayne Morse Legal Fellow
Location: Washington, D.C. (The fellow might need to work remotely part time, depending on what is happening public health-wise.) Student will determine start and end dates with Senator Wyden's D.C. staff.
Stipend: $9,250 for 10 weeks. The funds are considered financial aid by the University of Oregon and will be transferred to the fellow's student account sometime during the last ten days of May 2025. Payments come from two separate departments: the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics ($6,330) and the UO Law Career Center ($2,920). A loan may be available from UO to enable the fellow to purchase airline tickets, etc.
Description: Review testimony, documentation, legislative history, publications, public databases, and media. May participate in legislative hearings/drafting of materials for the Senator and the public. Should expect to develop greater understanding of the legislative process in general and the operations of the U.S. Senate. The job is structured so the student will be exposed to high-level Senate policy work rarely seen by non-staffers.
Qualifications: Strong research, writing, and organizational skills. Ideal candidate will be able to access large amounts of information, identify important elements, and summarize efficiently. The ability to understand and follow instructions is very important. An understanding of the legislative process is useful. Should have a general understanding of the major public policy issues of importance to Oregon.
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 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 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.
How to Apply
- Deadline: Monday, January 27 by 5 p.m. (Pacific)
- Through DuckWorks, submit the following:
- Cover letter addressed to Lisa Rockower, State Director, Office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, c/o Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, 1515 Agate Street, Eugene, OR 97403.
- Resumé – including both your school and non-UO email addresses
- Most recent transcript – official is great, unofficial works as well
- 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.
- Reference’s name, organization and title, phone number, and email address. Please check that the phone numbers and email addresses are current.
We will notify finalists as quickly as possible.
Interviews with Senator Wyden's state director, Lisa Rockower, will take place on February 10 in Knight Law Center.
NOTE: To apply through DuckWorks, you must first have your resume approved in DuckWorks by the UO Law Career Center. This can take up to three days.
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 graduates in this office: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (‘74)
Previous fellows: Aaron Moss (2024); Maya Ward (2023); Lindsay Free (2022); Vanessa Jackson and Hilary Therien (2020); Skyler Brocker-Knapp (2019); Casey Dreher (2018); Kimberly Koops-Wrabek (2017); Lucy Ohlsen (2016); Shannon Flowers (2015); Sharia Mayfield (2014); Trevor Caldwell (2013); Andrew Narus (2012); Sarah Altemus Pope (2011); Drew Johnston (2010); Adam Schultz (2009); Erin Gould (2008); Erin Fair (2007); Megan Thompson (2006); Melissa Seifer Briggs (2005).