Scott Looney
Scott Looney first worked as an associate at a government relations and communications consulting firm in DC. At the same time, he was completing his Master's in Media and Strategic Communication at SMPA and applying to law school. He completed his Master's in August of 2017 and began at Harvard Law School a few weeks later. Next summer, he’ll work as a summer associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York City.
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What excites you about the work you do? I really don't even know where to begin. I get to study and learn every day from the world's preeminent legal minds while grappling with the questions posed by contemporary issues. My mergers and acquisitions professor is the Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. Because so many companies are incorporated in Delaware, he will ultimately determine the law that governs the vast majority of American corporations. Things like that are honestly a bit surreal and they happen every day.
What is the most significant career experience you've had so far, and what made it meaningful to you? The government relations firm where I worked as a pretty small outfit. Because of this, I had a number of responsibilities that could be labeled as "surprising" while I was an associate. I was some combination of researcher, event planner, Congressional fundraiser, catering staff member, intern coordinator, and communications professional. I was also studying and attending class while pursuing my master's degree at night. This was a lot for me to juggle, but it was incredible experience. I'm less anxious about beginning my career as an attorney in New York knowing that I've been able to handle an intense work environment with a wide variety of responsibilities.
How did GWU and the UHP prepare you for your professional journey? In what ways has your career evolved since you graduated from GWU? I had an internship every semester I was an undergrad and my job after graduation was a direct result of working as an intern at the firm that hired me. Take every opportunity to intern, attend events, and grow your network. GW's location in DC is perfect.
Advice for current UHP students: Don't stress about your own uncertainty. For most people, a career path is only clear in hindsight. I thought I wanted to work in politics after graduation, so I interned at political organizations and applied to a five-year master's program to learn more about the field. However, I wasn't certain about my career choice, so I also took the LSAT. If I'd liked politics, then I would have stayed at my job and sat on the LSAT score for several years. I didn't like my career choice so I went back to school. Sometimes it is that simple.