Richie Wismer, '16

In his first year at the University of Richmond, Richie Wismer, ’16 learned the value of building relationships with people who ultimately assisted him in obtaining an internship at the Law Library of Congress. His interest in the law field began after taking an FYS (First Year Seminar) with Professor Epstein from the Richmond School of Law.

“The legal questions raised in that class piqued my interest and pushed me to further explore the legal field,” said Wismer.

After speaking to one of the career advisors in the Office of Alumni and Career Services, Wismer felt empowered to continue networking to explore his options. This effort led him to the Library of Congress, where he reached out to one of the librarians in the Law Library.

“I made fast friends with the law librarian. My apparent and sincere interest in law excited him, and we talked about law, law school, and the Library of Congress,” said Wismer. “When I later asked this man for information about internships in the Library, he eagerly put me contact with the Internship Coordinator.”

A week later, Wismer heard back that he was chosen for this much-desired internship opportunity.

“This all happened because I began a conversation,” he said. “I am grateful to Jesse Wingate (Assistant Director of Career Services) for teaching me this simple but invaluable skill.”

At his internship with the Library of Congress Law Library, Wismer was responsible for conducting research in order to expand the Global Legal Information Catalog. He had access to the Law Library of Congress's legal collection, which is the largest of its kind in the world.

From this experience, Wismer gained very practical skills.

“This project has helped me sharpen my research skills and has taught me how to navigate and expand an online database. These skills are of critical importance to me as I progress in my academic career.”

While Wismer has not yet declared his major, his main academic interests are Economics, Journalism, and Law, all of which could play into some of Wismer’s future career aspirations.

“I am still vastly underprepared to make an accurate prediction of what my future holds,” said Wismer. “If I had to guess, I could see myself graduating, doing consulting for a few years, going to law school and then being a trial lawyer. “

Wismer still has some time before having to decide what exactly he wants to pursue, but knows that his education will prepare him for wherever life takes him.

“University of Richmond is equipping me with knowledge that allows me to be successful in any career I decide to pursue after graduation,“ he concluded.