First current NCF student is extern to general counsel

Political science thesis student Rhys Shanahan is the newest extern to New College’s General Counsel David Fugett. Shanahan is the first current student to ever assume this role—an excellent opportunity for an undergraduate to learn about the legal profession.

“I expect I’ll be assisting Mr. Fugett with handling the more sensitive manners the school encounters on a day-to-day basis,” Shanahan said. “I’m looking forward to learning a great deal about the nuanced position of a general counsel for a state-funded academic institution, and to gain some much-desired hands-on experience with legal work.”

Fugett, who has supervised multiple externs (typically students who are already in law school), looks forward to the opportunity to work with such a bright undergrad.

“Rhys is a good candidate to be the first extern while still a New College student, as he is the student founder of the New College Law Society and was instrumental in starting the New College mock trial and moot court teams,” said Fugett, adding that Shanahan’s extern position is part of a tutorial for credit. “Rhys is also planning to be an assistant coach for the Booker High School mock trial team.”

While at New College, Shanahan has already interned with Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White—an experience that allowed Shanahan to develop his communication and project management skills. Shanahan also co-founded a 501(c)(3) called New Charity of Florida for the purpose of funding educational progress and enrichment (he is now the vice president).

With his New College peers, Shanahan competed in mock trial in February and moot court in November 2020, and his performance did not go unnoticed.

“Two years ago, when the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court came to campus to preside over our first moot court presentation, Rhys was one of the two New College students that presented oral arguments,” Fugett said.

Shanahan’s undergraduate thesis focuses on exploring the arguments against the legitimacy of the institution of judicial review in the United States. After New College, Shanahan plans to attend law school, either at the University of Florida or Florida State University (specializing in litigation or public policy), and then pursue a career in Florida politics.

“Ultimately, I think I’d like to try and enter the political arena,” Shanahan said. “That being said, I’m keeping my eyes open for opportunities every week that may influence what I’d like to do career-wise.”

Yasi Bahmanabadi is an intern in the Office of Communications & Marketing.