GW Law Field Placement Program

The GW Law Field Placement Program is proud to spotlight David Boord (JD ’26), who externed with DC Appleseed and Bread for the City. David gained practical experience at DC Appleseed, where he conducted policy research and delivered testimony before the DC Council. At Bread for the City, his experience included legal research, client intake, writing memoranda, motions, and client letters, and also attending client meetings and trials.

Reflecting on his experience, David shared:

“Field Placement gave me the opportunity to round out my legal education with real-world experience working alongside other legal professionals and advocates. It helped me reflect on what I still wanted to get out of law school and provided a path to achieve that. Through my externships, I also built a network of mentors and advocates who have been incredibly supportive as I prepare to enter the legal profession.”

We are also thrilled to share that, following graduation, David will be joining the ACLU of Alaska as a Skadden Fellow. Dean McCoy and the Field Placement Program congratulate David on his achievements and thank DC Appleseed and Bread for the City for their continued partnership and support of the Field Placement Program.

The GW Law Field Placement Program celebrates four-time all-star Leila Wargotz (JD ’26).

During her four semesters as a student extern, Leila gained hands-on experience across several prominent organizations in the copyright and publishing space, including the Recording Industry Association of America, the National Music Publishers’ Association, the Association of American Publishers, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Through these externships, she developed strong skills in legal research, drafting memoranda, policy research, reviewing licensing agreements, editing amicus briefs, tracking litigation, and delivering oral presentations. Her work focused on intellectual property law at both the state and federal levels, particularly copyright, trademark, and related issues in entertainment and publishing. Leila’s Field Placement experience gave her a deeper understanding of how intellectual property protections intersect and how emerging issues such as digital distribution and artificial intelligence are shaping the future of copyright law.

When asked what advice she would give to fellow law students, Leila shared:

“The Field Placement Program empowered me to make an impact in the copyright community before even graduating from law school. Washington, D.C., touts an impressive variety of entertainment and media trade association internships, and I am proud to say I took full advantage of these opportunities thanks to the Field Placement Program's support. Being able to learn legal concepts in the classroom and immediately apply them in the office is an incredible experience that I can confidently say will enhance my practice as a lawyer.”

Dean McCoy and the Field Placement Program congratulate Leila on all of her achievements. We also encourage all students to embrace the opportunity to explore areas of law that interest them and to gain meaningful experience through Field Placement.

The GW Law Field Placement Program is proud to spotlight Jada Bourne (JD ’26). Through her externship at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Jada gained practical experience conducting legal research, drafting opinions and orders, and attending trials and hearings.

Reflecting on her experience, Jada shared, “Working with a judge is an invaluable opportunity for anyone considering a career in litigation. I am grateful for the opportunity to gain this hands-on experience through the Field Placement Program.”

We are also thrilled to share that, following graduation, Jada will return to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as a law clerk for Judge Katherine Oler. We congratulate Jada on her many achievements and thank the Court for its continued partnership and support of the Field Placement Program.

The GW Law Field Placement Program is proud to spotlight Byron Martinez (JD ’26). Through his experiences with Neighborhood Legal Services in Fall 2024; the Better Business Bureau, National Advertising Division in Spring 2025; the Federal Trade Commission in Fall 2025; and, during the Fall 2025 federal government shutdown, with Judge Gregory Maggs at the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, Byron gained practical experience conducting legal research, interviewing clients, drafting opinions and orders, and attending trials and hearings.

When asked what advice he would give to someone considering participating in the Field Placement Program, Byron shared:

“In law school, I have had the opportunity to work at a nonprofit, a self-regulated organization, a government agency, and now in a judicial externship because of Field Placement. I like to do things that scare me, and putting myself out there terrifies me, but I have learned so much about myself and about being a lawyer by doing so. How else will you learn if you do not push yourself to try? Being a lawyer while still a law student also gives you the flexibility to explore your interests and challenge yourself to grow. I hope everyone participates in Field Placement at least once. I am so glad my mentor encouraged me to do it going into 2L.

Byron, we are incredibly proud of the work you have done as a member of the Field Placement Program. You are a shining example of the GW Law experience and the infinite value of externships and practical learning.

The GW Law Field Placement Program is proud to spotlight Abigail Riggs (JD ’26)! Through her externships at the US Senate and Appellate Court of Maryland, Abigail gained practical experience by conducting legal research, drafting opinions and orders, and attending trials and hearings.

Reflecting on her experience, Abigail shared, “I would absolutely recommend the Field Placement Program to anyone considering it. My externships were among the most meaningful experiences during my time at GW Law! You gain valuable practical experience that you can add to your resume, you learn a lot about yourself, and the Program provides excellent networking opportunities that can lead to future employment.”

We are also thrilled to share that following graduation, Abigail will be joining Foley & Lardner LLP as an associate. We congratulate Abigail on her many achievements and thank the US Senate and Appellate Court of Maryland for their continued partnership and support of the Field Placement Program.

We are honored to welcome Judge Loren L. AliKhan to the GW Law Field Placement Program, where she will teach Judicial Lawyering.

Judge AliKhan was appointed to the U.S. District Court in December 2023. Prior to her current appointment, Judge AliKhan served as an Associate Judge on the D.C. Court of Appeals.

Her distinguished career also includes service as Solicitor General for the District of Columbia and, before that, Deputy Solicitor General, handling nearly 3,000 cases over nine years and earning the National Association of Attorneys General’s Senior Staff of the Year award in 2020. She also practiced in the Supreme Court and Appellate Group at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, was a Temple Bar Scholar in London, working with Lord David Hope of Craighead, then a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and was a Bristow Fellow in the Office of the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice. She also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Louis H. Pollak on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Honorable Thomas L. Ambro on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

We are thrilled to welcome Judge AliKhan to the Field Placement Program and look forward to the insight, mentorship, and inspiration she will bring to our students.

The GW Law Field Placement Program is proud to spotlight Christine Acquah (JD ’26)! In her Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 externships with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Christine gained practical experience in employment law by conducting legal research, drafting orders, attending client meetings, trials, and hearings, giving oral presentations, and reviewing voluminous Reports of Investigation.

Reflecting on her experience, Christine shared, “The Field Placement Program has allowed me to gain practical experience in the legal field. I was able to bridge the gap between what I learned in class and real legal practice. During my externship, I gained a deeper understanding of employment law and enhanced my legal research and writing skills. I also observed trials and gained a much deeper appreciation for the way in which strategic decisions related to pretrial motions and objections during trial impact cases and play out in real time.”

We are also thrilled to share that following graduation, Christine will be joining Lowenstein Sandler LLP as an associate. We congratulate Christine on all her fantastic achievements and thank the EEOC for their continued partnership and support of the Field Placement Program.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day from Field Placement!

Happy holidays from Field Placement!