LENS opens door for Duke Law students to expand understanding (and networking!) in the national security arena

“Opportunities like this, where students are afforded the chance to invest in their future and learn beyond the classroom, are what make Duke Law such a special place,” says 2L Matthew Barry. 

What’s Matt talking about?  He was among the 15 Duke Law students who brought energy, enthusiasm, and a desire to impact the future to the ABA’s 34th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law CLE Conference in DC this week as part of an educational development event provided by the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security (LENS) to broaden the experience of students interested in national security law.

Preparation

In order to help students maximize their experience, a pre-conference planning meeting was held to strategize.  My wife Joy (who worked in DC as a VP of the National Association of Broadcasters and later as a lobbyist for the Military Officers of America Association), and I did a tag team presentation using a handout she created on how to make the most of their attendance.  Also, National Security Law Society co-president Katherine French added very helpful comments.

The conference

Panels on outer space, synthetic biology, the Chinese communist party, domestic security, the law of armed conflict, national security ethics, and protecting personal data as a national security imperative were among those offered at this year’s conference presented by the ABA’s Standing Committee on Law and National Security. 

“It has been the highlight of my educational opportunities this semester,” says 2L Jack Lineberry. “This conference has been incredibly interesting and has confirmed my interest become a national security lawyer and to be a JAG. I have enjoyed learning about cutting edge topics such as space law and synthetic biology. I also had the incredible opportunity to meet long serving national security lawyers who are experts in their field.”

“The panels were a brilliant way to learn about the many niches within the field from experts in the military, government, private practice, and outside the legal field. My favorite panel was on the national security implications of synthetic biology, which was an entirely new concept to me! I also enjoyed networking with these experts and other attendees and building a network in the D.C. legal market,” said 2L Beret Dernbach.

Interested students from my classes and Duke Law’s National Security Law Society are competitively selected to attend with the goal of expanding their knowledge in the national security realm and engaging with government and private sector lawyers as well as industry leaders. 

I always thought students would benefit from the ABA conference, so several years ago I decided to try bringing them to it as a LENS-sponsored event.  It’s been fascinating to see how students over the years have been impacted by the ideas and people in national security they’ve heard and met.

And, I could not be prouder of how our Duke Law students have represented themselves, LENS, and the Law School.  

I really wish all my Lawfire^® readers could meet these incredible young people!

The selected students are very bright, amazingly articulate, and clearly have what it takes to succeed in the national security realm. The very fact that they are willing to commit time to attend this conference shows they want to do above and beyond what’s required.

They actively engage – with thought-provoking questions, interactions with senior level legal experts and officials, in addition to soaking up knowledge in the presentations.

Plus, these students are outstanding ambassadors for Duke Law. Given their poise, professionalism and their knowledge, many they meet are surprised they aren’t already practicing. It’s truly been a privilege for me to work with these impressive future lawyers!

The 2L/3L student perspective

Learning and networking are two primary goals of the trip, and it’s gratifying to know from student feedback that both were accomplished.

How about if I let them tell you about it? 

“Hearing the perspectives of practitioners, whether panelists or audience members, is an invaluable resource to round out our understanding of the most pressing issues in national security law with the functional obstacles not expressed in casebooks and court opinions that they deal with every day in the field.” – 2L Lea Frenkel

“It was exciting to learn from panels of experts in the national security field about areas such as synthetic biology, space, and future warfare.  Not to mention, the incredible opportunities available to attendees to network with other scholars, practitioners, and students interested in national security!” – 3L Cody Markel

“Not only do I get to engage with scholars and practitioners, I get to bond with my law school peers. I’m so thankful to LENS for sponsoring us to have this opportunity to develop personally and professionally.” – 3L Johanna Crisman

“…the panels were both fascinating and cutting-edge, providing a unique opportunity to learn from specialists passionate about these fields. – 2L Emery Hansell

“Gaining this perspective helped me envision new possibilities for my own career and emphasized the importance of staying informed and adaptable in a constantly evolving industry.” – 2L Elena L. Graham

“I was especially interested to listen to representatives from the U.S. Army Futures Command discuss how technology is changing the way the military must fight its future conflicts.” – 3L Matt Poliakoff

The international LLM student viewpoint

“…I was able to connect with incredible professionals and gain a different view on humanitarian law and the U.S. goals, both domestically and internationally. The panels about U.S. national security and outer space, synthetic biology and its impact on war, and law of armed conflict challenges of future conflict were particularly thought-provoking.

The participation of experts from diverse fields, both within and outside the law, fostered a pluralistic environment that encouraged constructive dialogue and the development of effective solutions to national security challenges.  – Alice Muzzi

The 1L experience

The experience proved to be valuable in extra ways for first-year law students:

“The conference was a blast! It was awesome to get to know other students and professionals passionate about national security. I particularly enjoyed the lively space law discussion which featured passionate debate about the future of space commercialization and strategies to advance our interests in outer space peacefully but firmly.” – 1L Alex McElya

“The conference was a wonderful experience! As a 1L, I felt it was especially beneficial to listen to and meet so many individuals from an array of areas in national security law. Because of this experience, I’ve been able to narrow down my fields of interest and connect with experts who can provide further insight into their legal fields. The conuference is a great opportunity for any student or individual looking to learn more about current and future natural security concerns and talk to experienced national security professionals.” – 1L Julia Shurman

“As a 1L, one of the most rewarding parts of law school has been the chance to connect with and learn from practitioners across the legal field. (This) was an incredible opportunity to delve into national security law, meet lawyers from across the private sector and government, and envision my own potential career in the field. I particularly enjoyed exploring topics in space law and bioethics—two areas I hadn’t previously encountered but found fascinating. Overall, it was an inspiring experience that highlighted the many ways that I can contribute to national security as an attorney in the future.” – 1L Hunter Morgan

“It took a refreshingly practical approach to national security law that changed the way I think about topics ranging from space law to synthetic biology. I also immensely appreciated the opportunities the conference provided to meet national security lawyers from a variety of public and private organizations and at different stages of their career. I found that talking to these lawyers not only helped me better understand the content of the conference, but better understand the career options available in national security law.” – 1L Artem Ilyanok

Army and Navy Club dinner with Duke Law alumni

In addition to the conference, LENS also hosted a discussion-focused private dinner event where students enjoyed the historic Army and Navy Club, and got to interact with three Duke Law alumni: DeAnna Evans, Kayla Fries and Hensey Fenton.

Given that they hold national security-related jobs that include serving as a political appointee in the White House, as a ‘big law’ attorney, and as a lawyer in another important job, the students were extremely appreciative that the guests were so generous with their time in discussing their work and lessons learned, while also sharing suggestions and fielding questions. 

Among their tips: find good mentors; hone writing skills; ask for advice; practice positive self-talk and remember your capabilities in tough times; do the hard stuff and stick to it until it gets done; accept and build on constructive criticism; and… take vacations when you can!

Concluding thoughts

National Security Law Society Co-President 3L Katherine French summed it up this way: 

“…I am amazed by the breadth of topics that fall within the national security field and get to learn so much. This year, I was particularly interested in the space law and domestic security panels. They both covered topics with which I had minimal familiarity, so it was quite the treat to hear from some of the most prominent scholars and practitioners on those subjects.

Also, I always enjoy getting to spend time with fellow Duke Law students of all years and learning about what their national security interests are…Thank you to LENS for this wonderful opportunity!”

Be sure to mark your calendar for the LENS Conference!