Veronica Tait’s, ’27, summer experience has taken her to Honolulu, Hawai’i, to work in the state’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP). The opportunity was offered to her via the American Bar Association’s Janet D. Steiger Fellowship. Tait is keen on pursuing a career at the intersection of environmental, consumer protection, and antitrust law; her work in Hawai’i’s consumer protection office is allowing her to explore this interest through real, hands-on projects.

How did you connect with this summer opportunity?

Through Melissa Warner, my career services advisor. I relayed to her my interest in antitrust and consumer protection work during one of our career advising appointments early in the fall quarter and she sent me information for the Janet D. Steiger Fellowship. I saw Hawai‘i was one of the states I could work for—and it was a no brainer to apply.

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

I hope to one day work somewhere in the overlap between environmental, consumer protection, and antitrust law. Working with the OCP is helping me build the skills I’ll need to do that. 

Please describe a “typical” day at work.

I’m working on an ongoing investigation that is all-hands-on-deck in the office, so anything related to that is the bulk of my day. Since it’s ongoing, I can’t share too much information, but we’re investigating consumer complaints against a string of businesses in the hopes of working towards an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance. I’m also working on an extensive legislative proposal to amend a Hawai‘i statute relevant to the consumer complaints.  

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

I didn’t realize how much investigative work I would get to do! Related to the above investigation, I got to leave work early one day to do a spot check on the businesses about which many consumers have complained. I’d scope out the stores, then would find a bench to sit on while I typed my observations into my notes app. The next day I got to write up a memorandum of my investigation. I felt like I was in The Wire. 

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

When working for the government or in public service, resource constraints can force you to be a bit of a generalist, hopping around on different projects. I think this is an advantage. You learn to be agile, and it helps you stay interested in and engaged with the work you’re doing. 

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

Do it! And if someone asks for your help with a project on a topic you inevitably know very little or nothing about, just say yes. 

How are you spending your free time in Honolulu?

Hiking, swimming, eating my way around the island, and learning to surf! Almost all my coworkers are big surfers, and they were kind enough to let me borrow a board and give me a free lesson. We had an OCP surf sesh just the other day.

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

Seeing all my friends in Hyde Park and in the city! I’ve been a little cut off from everyone, and the time zone difference makes it harder to stay in touch.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

If you ever get the opportunity to work for a summer in Hawai‘i, do it!