New Contributor
I was the Office Manager for the Litigation Group from 2005-2006. Even though I was at Public Citizen avery short time, it had an enormous impact on my life, particularly my professional and politicalcommitments. As a 23 year oldand the lone non-lawyer for a group of insanely dedicated, smart, andfunny colleagues, I must say that I was very intimidated by them at first. A few weeks after I started, Iwatched two of the attorneys argue in front of the Supreme Court. In fact, during my brief tenure, I sawLitigation Group lawyers appear in front of the Supreme Court three times. It was so exciting for me tosee how focused, strategic, and quality efforts could actually make change at the highest levels of thejudicial and politicalsystem, and it was inspiring to be around the lawyers who did this day in and dayout. Yet, what I think really impressed upon me about the attorneys at the Litigation Group (and themany others in other divisions of Public Citizen) was just how humble and down-to-earth they were.After mornings where attorneys would argue at the Supreme Court, the whole Lit Group would stillmeet in the small basement break room to eat their brown bag lunches together, talking about thelatest political issues of the day,followed by the ritual “post-lunch Google search” about some point oftrivia raised in discussion (this was before smartphones!).Theattorneys left a powerful impression on me as a recent college graduate-even those who wereadvocating for change atthe highest levels of politics and the law could still be humble, friendly, andgenerous. It also taught me that powerful, lasting change is not usually the result of flashy politicalcampaigns or movements, but it is the result of everyday people who makethe commitment to it day inand day out. I saw that everywhere at Public Citizen-people dedicated to consistent advocacy, notbecause they wanted the spotlight, but because they knew it was the right thing to do, and becausethey just couldn’t let injustice pass them by. Even though I did not eventually go to law school to followin their footsteps, the attorneys at the Lit Group made such a huge impact on me. They taught me that alife dedicated to my ideals may involve some difficult financial sacrifices, but ultimately there’ssomething so honorable and fulfilling about waking up each day to doggedly work toward a more justsociety. I’m so grateful to be part of Public Citizen and particularly the Litigation Group.