Allison Nguyen (she/her) | Legal Studies | Spring ‘25
Allison Nguyen is a legal studies major who participated in our UCDC program in Fall of 2024. She worked as a Public Interest Law intern for a whistleblower law firm called Kohn, Kohn, & Colapinto, where she worked one-on-one with attorneys to conduct research and compose articles, landmark cases, and key policy work that seeks to expand whistleblower protections.
How will the skills you developed through your internship help you achieve your academic and/or professional goals?
While completing my internship, I became very familiar with case research using legal research databases like Lexis and Pacer. I was also able to collaborate with other interns and lawyers at the firm to write research articles and opinion pieces about significant developments in whistleblower law that were published in the National Law Review.
What was one defining moment from your experience with UCDC?
One defining moment from UCDC was when I attended an oral argument at the Supreme Court as part of an assignment for my class on the Supreme Court. It was super cool to tour the courthouse and watch real lawyers argue in front of all nine Justices.
What is one way prospective applicants could prepare for the UCDC program?
Cast a wide net when searching for internships. The relationships you build in your internship are arguably more important than the prestige or type of work. If you’re interested in policy or law, you can engage with them on the Hill, private practice, advocacy, nonprofit, and more. Once you’re in DC, take advantage of all the free events and concerts.