GW Law's National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program, International and Comparative Law Program, along with the National Security Law Association (NSLA), hosted the "GW Alumni Leading Diplomacy & Security at the Department of State" panel, welcoming back two GW alumni who have lead successful State Department careers.
This event featured a conversation between Lindsay Rodman, Visiting Associate Professor of Law and National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Fellow, Heather Samuelson, BA '02, Senior Advisor, Nominations, US Department of State, and Ian Moss, JD '08, Deputy Coordinator for Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorist Detentions, US Department of State. With Professor Rodman moderating, Samuelson and Moss spoke about the State Department's career opportunities and how graduates can use their GW education and connections to break into agencies that specialize in foreign policy and national security.
Both Samuelson and Moss encouraged students to think about their legal career goals broadly. Specifically, they encouraged students to remain open to non-traditional legal careers, such as those in policy, which provide important legal practice components in all agencies. Samuelson stated that law and policy overlap frequently and she uses her legal reasoning skills daily as an advisor.
Samuelson and Moss also spoke about the importance of mentorship and sponsorship to help young lawyers achieve their career goals. Samuelson explained that she had mentors who helped her establish her career early, which is something she now aspires to do for young lawyers. Similarly, Moss reminded students that they are their own best advocates and emphasized that peers, as well as professionals, can help with agency connections.
Finally, Professor Rodman invited Moss and Samuelson to share things they wish they knew as students trying to break into the State Department or adjacent roles. Samuelson stated she wished she would have had more early conversations about what it means to work in public service and international affairs so she could better understand the career path's numerous opportunities. Moss echoed this and stated he wished he would have had a broader view of what it means to be an attorney in foreign policy and national security. He encouraged students to have broad conversations with different lawyers in different fields.
Both Samuelson and Moss left the students with some final words of wisdom, "no matter what you are doing in law, have an experience and know that each one is equipping you for the subsequent experience."