Business & Government
As the state capital and home to seven Fortune 500 companies, the Richmond area is brimming with opportunities to get involved in the inner workings of some very influential offices.
Government presence in Richmond’s center includes city and state legislative, executive, and judicial offices. Governor Tim Kaine, in office since 2006, has pushed a business-friendly agenda while also focusing on education. Factors like quality of life and growth prospects led Forbes.com and CNBC to list Virginia among the best states for business.
Richmond’s corporate landscape includes the headquarters of Altria, Dominion Resources, and CarMax, as well as financial giants Genworth Financial and Capital One (which is technically headquartered elsewhere but has the bulk of its employees here). In addition to providing jobs and internships, these and other companies provide enhanced support for arts and education in the region.
The city is also home to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, one of only 12 reserve banks in the country.
The Virginia General Assembly meets in January and February of each year. Political science majors interested in internships with the legislative body can apply for the University’s Virginia General Assembly Internship Program.
Richmond students can take advantage of their proximity to the nation’s capital by interning in Washington, D.C. through the D.C. Initiative, which pairs career development seminars with internship experiences in the government, non-profit, and business sectors.
The legal sector in Richmond includes state courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as major law firms such as McGuireWoods, Williams Mullen, and Hunton & Williams. Both law students and undergraduates interested in law are encouraged to get involved with the legal community through UR Downtown and the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement.
For a look at upcoming conferences and workshops, check out Virginia Business magazine’s calendar of business events in Virginia.
