Gabrielle Baker '26

I would describe my experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs District Contract Law National Practice Group as educational and encouraging. In my role, I worked alongside both transactional and litigation attorneys to gain a well-rounded understanding of government contract law. In my position, I was participated in a variety of virtual proceedings, including depositions, client meetings, and mediation preparation. Additionally, I was able to advance my writing by drafting memorandums, legal reviews, and case studies. Drafting case studies especially advanced my communication, as I was tasked with communicating important changes in federal contract law to contractors and contracting officers, who often lacked a comprehensive understanding of legal issues. Furthermore, during my experience with the VA, I was able to build extensive professional and personal relationships with other attorneys, paralegals, and externs. Throughout all my experiences, I was provided support from those I worked with through their productive feedback, assistance with complex legal issues, and generally great conversations.

My mentors had the largest impact on my internship experience. I was given three mentors (a litigation, procurement, and paralegal mentor) who provided a comprehensive view of the government contract law field. While working with my litigation mentor, Katie, I was able to view post-award protest proceedings, draft motions to be filed with the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and complete legal research for various claims. My procurement mentor, Steven, aided in my legal reviews by answering any questions that came up throughout the process and editing my final work product. Working with my paralegal mentor, Brent, gave me the unique experience of learning how to delegate and collaborate.  Brent and I often worked together while drafting legal reviews. His feedback progressed my writing and research immensely. Aside from my assigned mentors, I often worked alongside other attorneys, supervisors, and mentors for various projects and was always met with an eagerness to help and advance my understanding of the issue at hand. All of my mentors’ feedback, assistance, and attention made my internship a memorable and educational experience.

I would like to sincerely thank the donors of the Mary J. Dowd Summer Fellowship for the generous donation to my educational advancement. Without the pressure of financial strain, I was able to commit my summer to completing thorough work for the VA, gaining an immense amount of knowledge over the past three months. My supervisors and mentors share my gratitude, as they directly benefited from my ability to commit my time to the organization.