Washington DC Semester Week: Spotlight on Tim Rawson (JD '14)

Tim Rawson (JD '14)
Externship: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Current Job: Associate, Fish & Richardson
Location: San Diego, CA

I participated in the DC Program in the Spring of 2013, where I worked as an extern at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna. That experience had a tremendous impact on my career, changing the trajectory of my career in intellectual property law. Participating in the DC program allowed me to build the relationships and skills that helped return to the Federal Circuit years later as a judicial law clerk, which in turn led to my current work for one of the country's preeminent intellectual property boutique firms in my favorite U.S. city, San Diego.

As I quickly realized, DC is a hotbed for intellectual property. Every agency related to IP calls DC home, and the Federal Circuit is the last stop for many IP cases from across the country. The DC program helped me form strong ties to the DC intellectual property community that will pay dividends for the rest of my career, even though I no longer live in DC. For one, I know all the good restaurants and happy hour spots. Perhaps more importantly, I experienced firsthand the interplay between government agencies, intellectual property, and the judiciary. Back on the west coast, I remain grateful for this opportunity, which paved the path forward to an exciting and fulfilling career.

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Washington, D.C., Externship Semester Week!

This week we are highlighting five alumni, one each day, who have used DC as the launching point for great careers. If you like what you hear and want the chance for a similar experience, reach out to Professor Hunt (nancy.hunt@pepperdine.edu) for more information. The DC Semester will run this spring. We are currently planning for on-the-ground classes, and will be monitoring health and safety guidelines to inform our final decision.