Annie Willett is a 2020 graduate of GW Law and the new Government Procurement Fellow and Visiting Associate Professor of Law. We recently spoke with her about her experiences leading up to the fellowship, her research interests, and what she looks forward to about her new role.
Interview with Annie Willett
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Please tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? Why did you decide to become a lawyer?
I grew up all over the south and attended college at the University of Arkansas. I chose this career primarily because I wanted to put my passion for writing to practical use. Whether through filing briefs in court on behalf of a client or publishing research addressing global systemic issues, I hoped to spend my career creating a positive impact while doing what I love.
I applied to GW Law in search of the unique opportunities that come from attending law school in DC—those “Only at GW” moments. It became my first choice over other DC schools because, during my first visit to the school, I was immediately struck by the law school’s strong sense of community. I knew it was the right place for me.
Could you tell us about your experience as a law student at GW Law? How did you discover the government contracts field?
Like most students, I had no concept of government procurement law when I started law school. But during my first year, I decided at the last minute to drop into a Government Contracts Student Association (GCSA) meeting based on the name alone—I had enjoyed my 1L contracts class. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I had an epiphany about halfway through the meeting as I realized that this field checked every box for what I wanted out of my career.
I went on to take as many government contracts classes as I could and competed in the Arnold & Porter Government Contracts Moot Court Competition. I also served as the secretary and later the president of GCSA, as well as participated in the Public Contract Law Journal (PCLJ) in which I published my student Note. As a Notes Editor on the PCLJ, I enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with students and learn about a variety of fascinating topics in government procurement law. I also gained practical and substantive experience during my third year of law school by completing a clerkship with the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. In addition, I was honored to receive the Murray J. Schooner Scholarship in 2020, which further solidified my interest in this practice area.
With all of that said, I was still a multi-faceted law student with other interests, particularly in international human rights, animal rights, and environmental law. But the best part about choosing to study government procurement law is that I did not have to shelve my other interests in order to pursue it. In fact, I found that there was no shortage of ways to tie in my other interests with government procurement law. There is just that much variety in this field.
There is no doubt that my career path would not be what it is without the GW Law Government Procurement Law Program. I graduated from GW Law in 2020 with the J.D. Concentration in Government Procurement Law, which not only prepared me to be a practicing government contracts attorney right out of the gate, but also helped me form an incredible network of mentors who are the top practitioners in the field.
What did you do after law school?
After law school, I became an associate at a large, international law firm where I worked mainly on government contracts matters, but also a variety of other projects involving administrative, corporate and securities, and environmental and energy laws. I left to pursue an exciting opportunity to clerk for a new judge at the United States Court of Federal Claims, the Honorable Carolyn N. Lerner.
Much like my predecessor Professor Christoff, after my clerkship I was eager to apply my government contracts interests and experiences in an academic setting. My time on the PCLJ and the clerkship heavily influenced this decision. While involved with the PCLJ, I got to publish my research, work with students, and realize how much I actually enjoyed the writing and editing process. And during my clerkship, I had a lot of fun writing on nuanced legal issues, working with interns, and improving my writing under Judge Lerner’s tutelage. I am looking forward to the countless opportunities the fellowship will provide to build on these skills and experiences.
For students who may be interested in pursuing a judicial clerkship after graduation, could you tell us some more about this experience?
Absolutely. Clerking is one of the most invaluable experiences for a young lawyer, and I encourage anyone even remotely interested in litigation to apply for clerkships. My research, writing, and analytical skills, as well as my substantive legal knowledge, improved dramatically while working in Judge Lerner’s chambers. I also found that clerking de-mystified the court system, litigation process, hearings and trial, and even electronic filing, which is why I recommend it for aspiring litigators. It is a huge benefit to be exposed to a variety of advocacy styles because it inspires confidence that you are more than capable of doing those things yourself. Most importantly, clerking is an opportunity to work closely and form a lasting relationship with someone who has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Many judges, like Judge Lerner, value the chance to mentor young lawyers and help them succeed in their careers.
We had a lot of fun in chambers and I was lucky to have a great judge, awesome co-clerks, and exceptional interns (several of whom were GW Law students). I will certainly miss it, but I am looking forward to this new opportunity, which feels like a natural next step.
What are some of your academic research interests?
Broadly speaking, I am interested in the intersection of government procurement, human rights, and sustainability in the international development context. By examining government procurement policies from an international and comparative perspective, I hope to publish research that explores the best procurement policies and practices to get vital goods, services, and infrastructure to developing communities while minimizing abuses, waste, and corruption. Some specific subtopics I hope to explore in detail include gender issues, public transportation, and capacity building. To hone my expertise in these areas, I plan to pursue an LLM in International and Comparative Law with a Concentration in International Human Rights during the fellowship.
Which aspect of the fellowship are you most looking forward to?
I am most excited about the chance to give back to the GW Law community and Government Procurement Law Program. I can’t wait to help students discover everything the Program and the broader community have to offer and to contribute my own research to our robust body of procurement law scholarship. This is such a unique opportunity to work with Dean Tillipman to administer the top government procurement law program in the world and set the next generation of practitioners up for success. Being a part of an unmatched academic program is also thrilling to me as a researcher. I have a more or less exhaustive collection of government procurement law resources at my fingertips through the Jacob Burns Law Library, and of course through my colleagues who are titans of the field.
What advice do you have for students or recent graduates who would like to practice in the government contracts field?
I’d have to say learn to embrace networking. But wait, hear me out! “Networking” is not as scary as it is often made out to be to law students and young practitioners. Real networking, particularly in our close-knit government contracts community, is not just about showing up to events, slapping on a name tag, and nervously shaking hands with important people (though I encourage everyone to absolutely do those things!) Building a network that will support you through your career takes time and intention but is worth it in the long run.
I have found that the most important people in my network are my mentors. So my advice to students and recent graduates is to focus on cultivating the relationships with people you encounter in your career who can serve as mentors and want to help advance your career—they can be professors, supervisors at internships, leaders of organizations such as the ABA Public Contract Law Section or Young Lawyers Committee, etc. While you are working with these people, indicate your interest to learn from them and try to schedule times to get together. And most importantly, once you have moved on from the class, internship, etc., be sure to maintain those connections by staying in touch regularly—don’t only reach out when you need something.