Elisabeth Ulmer, 2014
graduate of Villanova University School of Law, recently received the Irvin
Stander Award for Excellence in Administrative Law from the Philadelphia Bar Association for her contributions to Notice and Comment while in law school. Below she discusses the practical benefits of writing for Notice and Comment and how it will impact her future.
1.
How has writing for the blog influenced your understanding of
administrative law?
Researching regulations
for the blog reemphasized just how many different aspects of our everyday lives
are regulated by administrative law and agencies. This point also
underscored how important it is for the public to participate in the rulemaking
process and to share their comments, which many people currently do.
Furthermore, reading the
rationales for rules provided me with concrete examples of how the
administrative rulemaking process works. For instance, some new rules are
implemented to bring existing rules into accordance with older laws – such as
the FDA’s move to update serving sizes in compliance with the Nutrition
Labeling and Education Act of 1990. Along those lines, I became more
aware that the advances of technology frequently necessitate updated versions
of rules – such as the FCC’s new rule permitting in-flight calls because that
technology is now available. Exploring the background of rules offered me
greater insight into the ways in which policy and law intersect.
2. Have you gained skills from writing for the
blog? If so, what kind?
While writing for the
blog, one skill that I am honing is the ability to take a 50-page regulation
and condense it into about 500 words. I must make strategic decisions
about how to summarize a rule in a concise and understandable manner, and I
enjoy figuring out how to write my blog in a way that will motivate people to
check out the rule further and perhaps comment on it.
3. How do you plan to use those skills in your
career?
Writing will no doubt be
a large part of my future, and today’s world is placing increasing priority on
clear and concise writing. I am confident that the skills I am developing
while writing for the Notice and Comment blog will serve me well throughout my
career.
If you would like to write for Notice and Comment, please e-mail Lynn White for details on how to become a contributor.
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