Summer Experiences: Grace Hering, ’26, Summer Law Clerk, OMB, Office of General Counsel
Grace Hering, ’26, spent her summer in Washington, DC, as a law clerk for the Executive Office of the President's Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB assists the President in overseeing the preparation of the Federal budget and evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures, and works to make sure that agency reports, rules, testimony, and proposed legislation are consistent with the President's Budget and with Administration policies.
How did you connect with this summer opportunity?
I first became interested in the work of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) because of its involvement in the regulatory action review process. I was introduced to the Federal Register and to the notice-and-comment process through my past internships while working on immigration policy matters, and I have had an interest in learning more about the regulatory rule-making process ever since. OMB plays a major role in that process, so it was a natural contender when I began searching for 1L summer positions. I then found and applied to this position through the Executive Office of the President’s (EOP) internship program.
How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree?
This internship has been a wonderful learning opportunity for me to expand my horizons and determine what areas of law I envision myself working within. After working primarily in the private sector prior to law school, working in the public sector has provided me with valuable perspective on the multitude of opportunities available to young attorneys. This is especially true of working within OMB, given the complex and varied nature of the work. I have learned about several areas of law that I was wholly unfamiliar with, but that are incredibly interesting, and within which I could see myself developing an expertise in either the public or private sector.
Describe a “typical” day at work.
There is no typical day at work at OMB — as the largest component of the Executive Office, OMB’s work is varied, and the work of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) is no exception. During my internship, I have had the privilege of working with many attorneys within OGC, touching on a wide range of matters including appropriations, government ethics, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and regulatory review. The EOP internship program additionally hosts social events for interns across EOP components to get to know each other, including speaker events that provide context on the work of EOP as a whole.
What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during your experience?
It has been particularly compelling to witness the extraordinary cooperation and coordination across multiple components of the government that occurs on a day-to-day basis. While many people may have a picture of the government as being slow paced, this could not be further from the truth, and the excellence and integrity that public servants maintain while performing such intricate work is astounding.
What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience?
That everyone’s path in their career is different, and there is no right or wrong way to pursue your goals. The attorneys whom I have had the pleasure to work with have a wide variety of backgrounds and have traveled hugely different paths to get to the Office of General Counsel. Moreover, they practice within many different areas of law, many of which I had no idea existed prior to this internship.
What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer?
I would encourage any law student contemplating a summer position in the federal government to pursue such an opportunity, regardless of whether they currently envision themselves working in such a position in the future. No matter your career aspirations, knowing the intricacies of how the government functions is extraordinarily valuable, and the breadth and scale of the work that you are exposed to is immense.
How are you spending your free time this summer?
I have been getting outside for walks, taking bike rides, and generally enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. For me, staying active is an important part of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and the DC area has a wealth of beautiful parks and forests to explore! I grew up in the area, so returning feels like home.
What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall?
I am most looking forward to working as a staff member on the University of Chicago Legal Forum this upcoming year. The Legal Forum’s yearly publications are at the forefront of modern scholarly research, and I cannot wait to work further with such a supportive and capable team. I am especially excited for the 2025 Symposium, Crisis, Calamity and Catastrophe: Law in Times of Disaster, which is a particularly pertinent topic and is part of what drew me to join the Journal.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Don’t underestimate how many different summer positions there are for law students within the federal government! Almost every agency and major component of the government has openings for summer legal internships, although you may have to search directly for them on the agency’s page.