Internship Location: Madison
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Environment Policy
My internship with the Waste and Materials Management Program gave me a practical look at how environmental policy is implemented through administrative rules. From reviewing landfill owner financial responsibility requirements to evaluating how state administrative code applies to departmental forms, I used the regulatory analysis and stakeholder communication skills that I learned at La Follette often in my day to day work. I was surprised by how much discretion agencies have in interpreting regulations and how much thought goes into designing implementation of even small pieces of policy. The most valuable part was seeing how policy, law, and operations intersect in day-to-day work. I would recommend this internship to anyone looking for a chance to apply what you learn in class to real, impactful work. It also helped me see how my interests in law and policy could connect in a future career.