- Legislature: Montana
- Role: Legislative research analyst
- Years of service: 10
- NCSL connection: LSIE program
Sherley
After a friend suggested that she look for positions in the state government, Laura Sherley left her career as a medical scribe and began work in the Montana Legislature as a committee secretary. She later moved to a research assistant position and now works as an analyst. Sherley talked with NCSL about her journey in the Legislature and why she enjoys her work.
What encouraged you to seek a position in the Legislature?
I stumbled into a career with the Legislature ... but I quickly found the multifaceted work of the institution fascinating and spoke to my core as a lifetime learner. Since then, I have changed positions twice ... but I still come to work with that open-minded fascination I developed in year one.
Why did you choose to participate in the Legislative Staff Institution Essentials program?
I am fairly new to my current position as a legislative research analyst. As others in similar positions across the nation can attest, my role requires direct contact with state lawmakers, state agencies, lobbyists, stakeholders and other professional policy staff. I applied to the program because I hoped to gain some peer perspectives that would complement the work I am doing now. I was also seeking out personal development opportunities and resources.
NCSL’s Legislative Staff Institutional Essentials program provides newer legislative staff with the tools they need to support the legislative institution. It also encourages networking and peer connection with fellow legislative staffers across the country. Read more about the program.
What was the biggest takeaway from the program that you have used in your workplace?
With an honorable mention to networking with my professional peers, definitely information about NCSL resources that I wouldn’t have previously considered or known about.
What other NCSL programs would you recommend for Young and New Professionals members?
The policy groups and committees are great. I’m still new to my policy area, so I don’t tend to lend too much to discussion in those groups, but they’re a great place to learn from experts that are decades into their policies. Also, they’re a great place to learn about what resources your professional peers are using. I would also recommend the NCSL webinars and policy toolkits. Those are great free learning opportunities and research resources.
What has been your most rewarding experience while working for the Legislature?
Being at the front row of history in the making. It was that experience that has kept me in my Legislature for nearly 10 years. But, to build on that, generally being part of a larger whole that is the democratic institution. It takes many pieces to run the ship that is our political system, and it’s rewarding to be a small but important part of that impactful process.
If you could tell your younger self one thing about working at the Legislature, what would it be and why?
I would say, “You won’t believe it, but you’re going to end up working in politics. By choice. And you’re going to love it. Listen more often than you speak. You’re here to learn and you have a front row desk in the legislative classroom.”
Describe your legislative staff experience in five words or less.
Forever learning under pressure.
What makes your legislature different from others?
The pace and atmosphere. The Montana Legislature moves quickly. We are one of four state legislatures that meet biennially. And our constitution provides that the Legislature concludes its work within 90 days. With that in mind, this last session introduced a little over 1,700 pieces of legislation. That’s not a record-breaking number compared to other state legislatures, but between the amount of bills and time frame, it moves fast.
The other is the atmosphere. Even at the pace it moves, the Montana Legislature is a great place to learn as a staffer, a freshman legislator, a student or an interested member of the public. The ‘small- town’ atmosphere is still here and helping each other is a way of life. I don’t want to say that other state legislatures don’t have a good atmosphere, I’m just proud that Montana considers the bigger picture but also continues to stay close to its roots and look out for each other. Even across the aisle.
A biennial legislature is one that meets every two years. There are often interim committees, which work between the sessions to prepare policies and legislation for the next session.
The responses have been edited for length and clarity.