Scholar-musicians John Harper, Barron Ryan, Brandon Piper and Clarence Mitchell performed an abbreviated version of their July 17 National Endowment for the Arts concert in the main conference room at Epstein Becker & Green, PC. The performers were introduced by the firm’s founder, Steven Epstein, who has supported the Institute since its establishment. The firm provided food and beverage for all of the attorneys and support staff in attendance. The performers ended the concert with an improvisational song about lawyers.
John Murdock of the law firm Epstein Becker & Green, whose founder Steven B. Epstein was a founding supporter of the Institute, called together numerous Washington lawyers for a reception with Institute scholars. The reception was held in the moot court room at Hogan & Hartson LLP. Steven C. Lambert of Foley & Lardner LLP addressed the assembled lawyers and scholars, describing the relationship his firm has established with the Institute to educate young men about the practice of law.
Richard Walker, Vice President for Corporate Giving at Friedman Billings Ramsey Group, organized and hosted a briefing at the FBR headquarters in Arlington, Virginia to acquaint Institute scholars with the firm’s business interests. In addition to moderating the briefing, Walker discussed his role in directing the company’s charitable efforts, which are focused particularly in the Washington metropolitan area. In addition to supporting charities in Washington, the firm’s largest impact elsewhere is in Phoenix, Arizona, where the firm sponsors the FBR Open on the Professional Golf Association tour.
Frank Walker, no relation to Dick, is Chief Compliance Officer for FBR Investment Management, Inc. (FBRIM), the firm’s registered investment adviser. FBRIM manages a broad spectrum of investment vehicles, including hedge funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds. Walker discussed the role of the compliance officer in protecting the firm and its clients.
Richard Coll, Associate General Counsel, discussed the characteristics that would make one successful in his role. He also discussed the many rewarding career opportunities for lawyers to work in corporate settings. He answered numerous questions from the scholars, such as the firm’s standard for retaining outside counsel.
Roderick Dunlap, Vice President of Sales, discussed his transition from an Engineering major at Georgia Tech to a sales executive for an investment bank. He told the scholars that personal characteristics and aptitude were greater determinants of success in sales or most other fields than major areas of study in college. He told the scholars about his work at FBR and described his typical day.
Robert Dean, Vice President of Risk Management, discussed the need for risk management in an investment bank or any other securities related business. His discussion also combined a description of the technical aspects of his job with career advice for the scholars.
These discussions were followed by a reception at which the scholars had the opportunity to speak more casually with these FBR executives and others.
A collection of accomplished writers began tonight a series of workshops for the Institute’s seniors and a select group of students interning this summer at the Heritage Foundation. Tonight’s session was the first of four, which will cover such areas as press releases, issue briefs, op-ed columns, book reviews and writing for scholarly journals.
Tonight, the law firm of Foley & Lardner hosted the Institute scholars who are interested in legal careers for the first of three dinners and educational sessions at their office at the Washington Harbor. The scholars were welcomed by partner James N. Bierman, who shepherded the relationship between Foley and the Institute and took on the role of host and moderator of this first session. Bierman was a wonderful partner for the scholars to meet. He has served as managing partner, head of recruiting for the firm, and previously an admissions director at Harvard Law School.
In this first session, attorneys Norm Rich and Ric Henschel discussed trademark and patent law, which are similar but distinct practices. Next week, Irwin Raiji will discuss legal work in both the public and private sectors. Foley is the law firm for Major League Baseball; Raiji represents the Washington Nationals and has helped them with the negotiations with the District of Columbia regarding the construction of a new stadium, which is to open next season. In the third session, attorneys Sharie Brown, Paul Monsees and Steven Lambert will discuss the Patriot Act, environmental law, and arbitration/mediation. They, along with Bierman, will expose the scholars to the many areas of law.
In addition to its involvement with the scholars, Foley is a financial contributor to the Institute.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars recognizes outstanding academic achievement among students in their freshman and sophomore years of college. The organization’s mission statement indicates that it is committed to “Honoring and inspiring academic excellence and engaged citizenship for a lifetime,” making the goals of NSCS the same as those of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. Each year, NSCS assists our recruiting efforts by promoting the Institute to their eligible members. Institute scholars who attend universities where no NSCS chapters exist serve as catalysts for starting chapters. Today’s ceremony was held at the offices of the Washington law firm, Epstein Becker & Green.
Senator Don Nickles, (R-OK), Oklahoma's senior Senator, has agreed to champion the cause of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. The Senator will sponsor as many as four students, preferably from Oklahoma, to participate in the Institute each summer. Additionally, the Chairman of the powerful Senate Budget Committee will assist the organization with fundraising.
Senator Nickles worked his way through Oklahoma State University by starting a janitorial service. Following graduation, he went to work for Nickles Machine Corporation in Ponca City, Oklahoma, where he later became vice president and general manager. His career in public service began with his election in 1978 to the Oklahoma State Senate. Two years later, at age 31, Nickles was elected to the United States Senate. In addition to the Budget Committee, he serves on the Committees on Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, and Rules and Administration.
In a recent letter to friends, Sen. Nickles wrote, “Like me, you probably know a young person whose life has been changed for the better by working in Washington, DC -- someone for whom higher expectations, bigger challenges and greater demands brought the realization they could do more for family, for community, and for country. Please join me in building a program that has the potential to mold future national leaders and change the lives of bright young students who also happen to be minorities.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) has agreed to assist the Institute for Responsible Citizenship in its efforts to recruit outstanding students for its summer program in Washington, DC.
NSCS is an honors organization that recognizes outstanding academic achievement among first- and second-year college students. NSCS has active chapters on over 170 college and university campuses.
During this year’s recruiting period, NSCS will encourage its eligible members to apply. NSCS members who are accepted into the Institute will participate in NSCS activities, including the organization’s annual Capitol Hill Reception. IRC participants who are not currently members of NSCS will be inducted into the organization while in Washington this summer and will be encouraged to start NSCS chapters when they return to their home colleges and universities in the fall.
If you have questions about NSCS, please see their website, www.nscs.org, or contact them at ncsc@nscs.org