2025 Summer Public Interest Fellow

How would you describe your experience?

While interning with the Erie County District Attorney's Office, I had the opportunity to work alongside prosecutors handling a great range of criminal cases. It has been and continues to be an amazing experience, coupling real world experience with a great team of people!

I was placed in the Buffalo City Court Bureau and the Hamburg Town Justice Court, I assisted with tasks in various stages of the criminal process. My responsibilities included legal research, drafting motions and memoranda, helping to prepare discovery materials, and reviewing case files, with special focus on body-worn camera footage and reviewing calls from the Erie County holding center. I also had the opportunity to observe many court proceedings, from arraignments and pre-trial hearings to trials which gave me a much clearer sense of courtroom work, and the pace of litigation.

One of the most valuable aspects of the internship was the ability to see how theory translates into practice. As a criminal justice major in undergrad, it was great to get in and do some of the work I had learned about for many years. I was also able to gain valuable experience in writing legal arguments which were submitted to the court. The experience helped me develop practical skills that will be essential in my future career. I became more confident in conducting research under time pressure and tailoring my writing to different stages of a case.

Working in the DA's office has reaffirmed my interest in criminal law and helped me better understand the responsibilities and demands of work in such an emotionally and mentally demanding environment of public service. The attorneys I worked with were committed to fairness, and they took the time to involve me in substantive work. I left the summer with a much better foundation in litigation, a greater understanding of the criminal justice system, and a clearer idea of the kind of person I want to become.

What impacted you the most?

The most impactful part of the summer was getting to spend time in the courtroom. Although classroom learning is great, it  only goes so far. Being in close contact with the lawyers on both sides, as well as the judges who help run our legal system has given me great appreciation for how the whole system works.

One moment that stood out was when one of the defendants that day had allegedly stolen from a local business, and the defense attorney argued in a pre-trial conference that his client was a major schizophrenic who had been off his medication during the incident. He asked that the judge grant an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal so his client could get better and not be punished for his illness. The judge agreed and mentioned that such a subject was especially sensitive due to a family member also having schizophrenia, so he understood the young man's plight. It really showed me that beyond grand motions and big lawsuits, the practice of law is one of humanism. It's the practice of people, and in criminal law we not only have the responsibility to help our client, the people of the state of New York, but also our defendants.

What would you like to share with our donors?

Thank you to Hon. Dennis C. Vacco for making this experience possible. Without your support, this experience with the Erie County DA's office would not have been possible for me. Over this summer, I have not only been able to survive, but also to thrive in the experience I have been granted. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to be able to work with our great public servants, and none of it would have been possible without you. Truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart.