Passionate about First Amendment law, Seth Moskowitz, ’27, decided to spend his summer in Washington, DC, at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The experience, he says, has given him a feel for what life will be like as a junior associate, but it has also illuminated for him just how much 1L classes have a direct correlation to legal work into the real-world.

How did you connect with this summer opportunity?

I used to be an editor for a small political magazine, and we would sometimes publish articles by people who worked at FIRE. So, I have known about their work defending the First Amendment for a few years now and came into law school hoping to work for them during my 1L summer. 

How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree?

I want to continue litigating First Amendment issues and defending free speech rights throughout my career. Whether that ends up being my primary practice or a big portion of my pro-bono work, my experience at FIRE will be a great introduction to that area of the law.   

Please describe a “typical” day at work.

FIRE treats me like a junior attorney on their litigation team. I spend a lot of my day doing legal research, writing memos, taking a first crack at motions, and talking First Amendment law with the other law students. I also get to participate in higher-level work like strategy meetings and oral argument moots. 

What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position?

I have always been interested in elections. One of FIRE’s clients is Ann Selzer, the pollster behind the famous Iowa Poll. It has been very interesting to learn the ways that laws can be twisted to try and restrict speech and how awful it is to be sued by the president of the United States.

What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far?

First, that the skills from 1L year— especially Legal Research & Writing and Civil Procedure — do translate to real-world work, despite what the skeptics say. Second, that it is easier to teach yourself the substance of an area of law (like First Amendment law) than the framework of our legal system (like civil procedure or federal jurisdiction). Third, that DC is a very fun place to explore for a summer even if the weather could use some work. 

What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer?

I would advise students to have an idea what they want out of their summer going into it, whether that’s more experience with legal research, a writing sample, a mentor, client interaction, or something else. The weeks fly by and it’s helpful to start working toward your goals early on. I would also advise students not to overbook their summer with too much law-related stuff. It is great to be able to explore a new city and have some fun after what can be an intense 1L year. 

How are you spending your free time this summer?

I have fully embraced being a DC tourist. I’ve gone to a lot of Smithsonians, memorials, and museums. My favorite was seeing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights at the National Archives. After my summer job ends, I’m going to Rwanda, where I own a small coffee farm, to check on the business.

What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall?

I’m excited to take second- and third-year classes with my favorite professors. They made my introduction to law school so interesting during my 1L year and it will be fun to be able to continue learning from them and getting to know them better.