Career Development - Georgetown Law - Center on National Security

Launch your career where the action happens—Washington, DC

Based in the nation’s capital, the Center’s students have direct access to the key people and institutions that influence and shape national security law. Each year, our JD and LLM students have opportunities to pursue research projects with our faculty and/or seek internships in the public or private sector. These are just a few of the institutions that our students have worked for and/or collaborated with in recent years.

Shape policy at the highest levels of national security.

Serve at agencies where legal expertise influences critical decisions on defense, intelligence, and homeland security.

U.S. Department of Justice
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
National Security Council
U.S. Department of State

Advise and lead on national defense from inside the armed forces.

Provide legal guidance on operations, strategy, and international law across branches of the U.S. military.

Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG)
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Cyber Command
U.S. Army War College
Office of the Secretary of Defense

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Drive research and debate on today’s most urgent security questions.

Join institutions that influence policy through independent legal scholarship and real-world analysis.

Brookings Institution
Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
RAND Corporation
Atlantic Council
Stimson Center

Defend human rights and uphold the rule of law worldwide.

Contribute legal expertise to international justice, conflict prevention, and humanitarian protection efforts.

Human Rights Watch
International Crisis Group
Center for Civilians in Conflict
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Advise global clients on national security, investigations, and compliance.

Work in firms that specialize in cybersecurity, international law, white-collar defense, and government investigations.

Covington & Burling LLP
Arnold & Porter
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Wilmer Hale

Teach and research the evolving landscape of national security law.

Join top law schools or institutes to shape the next generation of legal scholars and policy thinkers.

Georgetown Law
Yale Law School
Harvard University
Hoover Institution

Unparalleled access and exposure to leading alumni. 

Our Next Gen National Security Leaders Program connects aspiring professionals with experienced alumni, providing invaluable guidance and networking opportunities.

Explore the Next Gen National Security Leaders Program →

Notable Alumni

“The mentorship I received from my professors… provided me with some of my very first opportunities to publish and to connect with international security experts, all of which allowed me to…eventually start building my own profile as an expert in the field of space security law.”

Almudena Azcarate OrtegaUN Institute for Disarmament Research, Researcher, Space Security, LLM, 2020

“I went to law school to become a Navy Judge Advocate after serving six years as a Submarine Officer. Georgetown Law Center on National Security’s resources are unrivaled. CNS afforded me the opportunity to learn from practicing professionals in classes like National Security and the Law of the Sea and helped me find an opportunity interning at the White House.”

Jordan FoleyU.S. Navy, Judge Advocate, currently serving as Sen. Mazie Hirono’s Defense Fellow, JD, 2021

“In choosing law schools, I knew I wanted to go somewhere with a strong national security program. The program and the faculty here at Georgetown Law were better than anywhere else.”

Ashley NicolasSouthern District of New York, Assistant U.S. Attorney, LLM, 2019

“I wanted to come to a school that really valued public interest…I was hell bent on pursuing JAG.”

Corey KrzanDepartment of Energy, Procurement Attorney,

“The LL.M program opened the doors to not one, but two dream roles for me, at the International Court of Justice and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The professors, the network, and the opportunities to engage developed my skills and expertise in advising senior policymakers in national security policy and international law. ?

Gunjan ChawlaInternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Legal Adviser, LLM, 2017

Career advising & workshops

We offer career workshops, networking events and field trips, allowing for deep dives into specific security fields and the skills you need to succeed in these areas.

Join us: The annual Federal Government Security Clearance workshop

Many government agencies require security clearances. This workshop is designed to educate students about the application process and the legal framework underlying security clearances. Representatives from the Department of Justice, the Department of State, the Department of Defense and the CIA will be on hand to answer your questions anonymously. Can’t make it in person? No problem—we will stream the workshop live for Georgetown Law students. Check back soon for more details.

The Journal of National Security Law and Policy Annual Symposium

The event took place on March 6, 2024. The theme for the year was Election Integrity as a National Security Imperative: Current and Future Challenges to Securing U.S. Elections.

Field Trip to the CIA

Law students have the unique opportunity to embark on a field trip to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The visit provides an in-depth look at the agency’s role in safeguarding national interests and the legal frameworks that govern intelligence operations. Students gain firsthand insights into how intelligence work intersects with constitutional law, surveillance regulations, and foreign policy.

Recent Journal Articles

Defense Policy

Hard Cash and Easy Money: Funding Authority for Security Force Assistance Brigades

Defense Policy

One China Reality Check: The Manipulation of Risk and the Myth of Strategic Ambiguity

Book Reviews

The Legitimacy of Drone Warfare: Evaluating Public Perceptions

Foreign Policy

Tomorrow’s national security leaders get their start here.

Overview