Jayna Marie Rust, JD '13
Jayna chose GW Law because of its location in the heart of DC and the welcoming atmosphere she felt while touring the campus. She also liked the size of its student body, the numerous clinical programs, and the broad range of classes available.
During her first year, Jayna’s interest in government contracts peaked after taking a class with Steven L. Schooner, Nash & Cibinic Professor of Government Procurement Law and Co-Director of the Government Procurement Law Program. In fact, both sections of Contracts turned out to be her favorite 1L courses. Since then, Jayna has focused her studies, extracurricular activities, and internships on government contracts. “The professionals I meet in the field are so passionate about their work. The tight-knit community of the local government contracts bar and GW Law’s fantastic reputation, as the only government procurement program in the country, also appealed to me,” Jayna said.
To complement her studies and enhance her law school experience, Jayna actively sought out internship and work opportunities. As a 1L, she spent the summer in Korea working for a shipbuilder’s international legal team. In that role she assisted in reviewing contracts and preparing for possible litigation; researched and wrote memoranda on liabilities, breaches of contracts, and U.S. trade remedies; and reviewed and identified areas of concern in mortgage agreements, amendments to previous contracts, and a consortium agreement for a public project. She learned how a corporate client operates, the basics of the Korean legal system, and how Korean attorneys felt about the then-pending Korean Free Trade Agreement.
Jayna also interned with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, worked for a judge at the Court of Federal Claims, was a Summer Associate for Thompson Coburn LLP, and recently completed an internship with a judge at the Federal Circuit.
An editor for the Public Contract Law Journal and president of the on-campus government contracts student group, Jayna will join Thompson Coburn LLP following graduation.