This course will be taught in person with remote participation by students via Zoom permitted. Students who plan to work in person at their placement offices, those who plan to work remotely, and those who plan on a mixture of in person and remote work are all eligible to participate in this course.
The law school's proximity to the Texas Capitol affords a unique opportunity for students to gain experience working with legislative lawyers practicing in a number of settings where they participate in the governing process at the state level. Students will learn how legislatures respond to executive activity and judicial decisions, how executives control policy agendas and administrative agencies, and how judges read and interpret governing instruments. Texas has the second-largest population in the United States and its economy would rank 10th in the world if it were an independent country—thus, the work of Texas legislators and state government continues year-round. The Legislative Internship provides students with direct involvement, from a number of institutional perspectives, as state government addresses the important public policy issues of the day.
Students engage in law-related work under the supervision of a legislative lawyer with at least two years’ experience. Students participate in a weekly seminar and conduct between 10-15 hours/week of fieldwork (at least 150 hours over the semester) at an approved placement with a legislator, legislative leader, legislative officer, or legislative service agency. Class meetings will likely be held in the late afternoon/early evening and may be held at the Capitol depending on students' schedules. Course requirements also include academic readings, simulations, in-class exercises, and guest speakers; individual meetings with the instructor are scheduled as necessary during the semester. Students arrange a mutually convenient work schedule with their supervising lawyer.
During the regular session of the Texas Legislature (which is held in the spring of odd-numbered years), students may choose to register both for this course and for the six-credit Legislative Internship (Supplement) – for a total of ten credits. PLEASE NOTE that the Legislative Internship (Supplement) is available only for students who will spend more than half of their required hours working in person at their placement.
This course will be taught in person at the law school but some class meetings may be held online via Zoom. During regular sessions of the Texas Legislature, this class may meet at the Texas Capitol after the first class meeting, rather than the law school, to accommodate student work schedules and the legislative calendar.
Applying: An application (available on the program website) and instructor approval of both the placement and the supervisor are required prior to registration. Students may pursue their own placements and are strongly encouraged to contact Professor Hugh Brady to discuss possible placements.
Brady, Hugh L. 