The University of New Mexico School of Law offers a program that allows selected students to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., where they can live, study, and work. This initiative provides participants with the opportunity to engage with judges, practitioners, and national political leaders, offering practical legal training and exposure to government operations.

During the semester in D.C., students work full-time at nonprofit organizations or government agencies while attending a weekly class taught by an adjunct professor based in the city. In the fall semester of 2024, six law students participated in this program, including second-year student Stella Leitner. Leitner expressed her enthusiasm about the experience: “This semester has been incredible. D.C. feels like a playground for law students,” she said. She emphasized how the program helped her understand her career goals after law school and affirmed her chosen path. "The city is full of attorneys who work at nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, private firms, on the Hill, the list goes on," Leitner noted. "They’re excited to talk about their experiences, especially with a student who came all the way from New Mexico."

A significant highlight for Leitner was attending oral arguments for Garland v. Vanderstock at the United States Supreme Court. Public seating for these arguments is limited and often requires attendees to wait in long lines without assurance of entry. Describing her experience, Leitner stated: “The public seating for oral arguments is first-come, first-served... My classmate and I got in line at 4 a.m." The argument began at 10 a.m., following entry into the courthouse around 8:30 a.m., which she found worth every minute of waiting. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar represented the United States during these proceedings. Reflecting on this experience inspired Leitner: "For days after, I kept thinking, ‘I can’t believe I get to have the same job as her—attorney, that is.’”