Rising 3L Jeff Moore, who spent more than 15 years working in risk assurance before beginning law school, wanted to explore new opportunities in both immigration and international law. He found what he was looking for in Washington, D.C., where he spent the spring 2026 semester.
“I learned of the National Immigration Forum, where I’ve been working as a policy and advocacy intern, through the Hinckley Institute of Politics. I came to law school with immigration in mind, so the thought of making even a small difference at the policy level sounded incredible to me,” Moore explains. “I have also been interning at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of International Affairs since February, as I have a background in audit and compliance.”
At the SEC, Moore researched international securities laws, prepared comparative analyses, and helped prepare communications and debrief meetings. He also created the weekly bulletin and website content at the National Immigration Forum, translating legal and policy developments into understandable bill summaries and explainers.
“We published some explainers, including one on the impact of the Trump administration’s travel bans on the World Cup and another on the 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe, which prevents states from denying undocumented kids the ability to attend K-12 school, and the possibility of it being overturned,” Moore says. “The internships have been great. I have enjoyed meeting so many new people from different parts of the U.S. and the world.”
Moore has also connected with both U.S. Senate and Congress staffers through his SEC and National Immigration Forum internships.
“I have had the opportunity to attend Senate committee hearings and meet with congressional staffers from both parties on immigration issues. On the SEC side, I have participated in meetings and events with securities regulators from other countries. The energy is unique here, and there are many interesting opportunities in D.C.,” he says.
He has enjoyed spending time with his family while in the nation’s capital as well.
“We have explored the D.C. area and made a few trips to see other cities on the East Coast. Visiting the museums and other sites has been informative and has left a lasting impact on my family and me,” he says. “There is so much history. I’ve seen myself and my family grow in ways we wouldn’t have without it.”
Students interested in working in Washington, D.C., should apply to everything they can, Moore says, and be patient.
“These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and well worth it. I have been grateful to those who helped me explore this D.C. opportunity, improve my resume, and support me while I am here,” he says.
Though Moore spent a few months away from the Utah campus, he is excited to return for his last year of law school.
“The professors and staff have been free with their time, always willing to help students. The students are bright, generous, and supportive of one another,” he says. “I feel so fortunate to attend school and graduate alongside such talented and good people. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone and working on group assignments.”
He plans to pursue public interest law after graduation.
“It would be incredibly meaningful to me to build on my experiences in D.C. to help influence immigration policy or to help individuals overcome immigration issues,” Moore says.