Dustin Karels

Washington D.C. Summer Internship Program Summer 2003

Dustin interned at Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. located at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E., Washington, DC 20003.

Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P is a law firm based in Minneapolis with an office located in Washington, D.C.  Dustin interned at their Federal Relations Group, which lobbies for clients of the firm including the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Xcel Energy, police organizations and various other entities.  

Dustin's main focus was working for the police organizations, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) and the Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM). The specific issues he worked on include homeland security funding, funding for bulletproof vests, funding for drug task forces, and a bill to allow police officers to carry their weapons across state lines.  Some of Dustin's responsibilities included writing letters, faxes and fact sheets that were sent to members of Congress and their staff.  As an intern in a lobbying firm, Dustin had the opportunity to closely observe the workings of the Hill.

An aspect of the D.C. Summer Study Program that Dustin enjoyed was the Monday night sessions where students and the faculty moderator meet and talk with Saint Ben's and Saint John's alums that work in the D.C. area. After listening to the alum speakers, Dustin was invigorated to further research his career goals.

Dustin noted "the Summer Study Program is not just about finding and completing an internship, but about living on your own and working as we will after college, and about discovering or reaffirming your goals for the future."