Students & Alumni

Alumni Spotlights

Tell us a little bit about you and what drew you to GW Law.

My name is Elan Reisner. I graduated occupational therapy school at Washington University. Witnessing clients face legal hurdles catalyzed my entry into the legal profession. I entered GW Law to advocate for social justice. I was immediately drawn to GW Law because the faculty, Career Development Office, and Field Placement office created a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. In addition, GW Law provides a DC infused experience and a host of government externships unavailable at other law schools. I am incredibly grateful to be part of the GW Law community.  

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Why do you want to pursue a career as a public interest lawyer, and what kind of practice areas are you interested in?

I want to pursue a career as a public interest lawyer to enact systemic social justice for my clients. Currently, I am interested in consumer protection, mass tort lawsuits, and whistleblower cases. I am also interested in the False Claims Act to hold corporations and nursing homes accountable for fraud. After graduation, I am open to working for the government and public interest law firms. 

You were selected as one of Dean Morrison’s Public Interest Scholars last year, can you tell us about that experience and what you gained from it?

It was an honor and privilege to be selected as a Public Interest Scholar. Dean Morrison did a great job of picking a diverse cohort with varied interests. Dean Morrison hosted dinners to discuss law school tips and give us insight into recent Supreme Court cases. In addition, Dean Morrison organized all five scholars to witness a Supreme Court hearing and discuss the case’s merits. The Public Interest Scholar program provided me with the flexibility to pursue a public interest summer internship with a summer stipend, build friendships with like-minded peers, and gain legal insight into the Supreme Court. This summer I interned at the Office of Elder Justice housed in the Department of Health and Human Services. I learned more about the federal government’s role in preventing elder abuse and supporting best practices for states implementing Adult Protective Services. 

What is the most useful resource you have been able to take advantage of as a GW Law public interest student?

The Career Development Office and Field Placement office. 

What advice would you give to other students at GW Law interested in public interest?

Be open to new opportunities and network with professors as well as practitioners. In addition, I recommend building relationships with your peers who will be your future colleagues in the legal profession.

Tell us a little bit about you and what drew you to GW Law.

I was drawn to GW Law because of the scholarship I was offered and also the fact that it is in Washington DC. I was interested in policy work and working on national issues and DC is the hotspot for both.

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What was your experience like at GW Law as a public interest student?

My experience at GW Law as a public interest student was confusing. I came to school with an idea of what I wanted to do but the plan I had wasn’t as solid as I thought it would be. I spent a lot of time exploring and searching for the area that I thought was a good fit. I was swayed towards law firms by my peers and lawyers at professional events. I had trouble finding resources and navigating the public interest sector. That’s why I’m getting involved as an alumnus now, to help students who are confused like I was.

What was your favorite course you took as a student, and how did it help you in your
current field?

My favorite course was the prisoner reentry clinic. It helped me get into my current role now doing prison inspections and working with reentering citizens.

What is it like working in your current role? What does a typical day look like?

A typical day for me is researching and writing about federal prison policy and DC Jail policy. I spend my days researching, writing, and editing. Once one report is done, I start the next. I monitor policy changes, write up summaries and explanations for reentering citizens and their families, I write recommendations to prisons and follow up on the implementation of those recommendations. I work in a very collaborative office, so I usually have a meeting. Things shake up every two months when we do a prison inspection.

What advice would you give to a GW Law student considering public interest?

My first piece of advice would be to do informational interviews. The public interest sector is huge! There are hundreds of different organizations all doing different work in different areas. Lawyers can take on a myriad of roles you don’t learn about in law school. If you want to find the right place for you, talk to professionals and ask them about their jobs. Find out what their day to day is like, how their job makes an impact, what areas they focus on. Be honest with them about what you’re looking for in a job and they will be able to point you in the right direction. During the process you’ll not only learn about the types of roles lawyers can work in but also about yourself and what kind of career you want. 

My second piece of advice is to do fun things in the city not within the law school community, so bar review doesn’t count. I got my current job because of volunteering at a community garden. Someone I garden with told my employer about me and they liked that I was involved in my community. I’ve met lawyers at open mic nights, in bookstores, at board game stores, etc. This city is full of lawyers. Go out and do the things you think are fun. You never know who you’ll meet or where those fun casual connections will lead. Please don’t treat fun events like networking though, people can sniff that out. Just have fun.