2025 Summer Public Interest Fellow

How would you describe your experience?

During my first day at the Chemung County Courts, I was overwhelmed with how much happened in a day. I saw a new case every half hour and was confronted with criminal, family, juvenile, and drug court matters. As a judge working in a small town, Judge Rich covers almost every type of case. I am also a pretty introverted person and was quickly overwhelmed with how many people I spoke to in one day. During my first week, I would go home and not talk to anyone just to recover. However, as I came to court every day, I adjusted. As I adapted to the fast-paced environment, I was able to learn which kinds of law that I was drawn to. I was further able to learn about what I was interested as I began researching and writing memos for the judge. It served as an immense source of pride when those memos became the official opinion of the court. I learned the attorneys' names and built up the courage to start asking them questions. I was so incredibly fortunate to work with Judge Rich, not only for the wide range of exposure but for the warm office environment that encouraged inquiry. Judge Rich's background in public defense and his deep commitment to serving the community left a lasting impression on me. His empathy, fairness, and understanding of the challenges people face-especially in a small-town courtroom where personal histories often overlap-reflected the kind of lawyer I hope to become. Watching him balance compassion with accountability showed me how powerful public service in the legal field can be, and it affirmed my desire to pursue a career rooted in advocacy and impact.

What impacted you the most?

Observing drug court impacted me the most this summer. After observing how slow the criminal judicial process can move, and even writing judicial opinions that contributed to delays myself, it is easy to become jaded with the process as a whole. Drug court was a great way to see people really benefit from the system and to witness positive change. While the name may be misleading, Chemung County Drug Court serves as a sober support system to people charged with drug related crimes. Should the participants succeed in their programming, including AA, local inpatient facilities, and drug support groups, the participants can plea to a reduced charge. We meet every week with a team of lawyers, treatment experts, case workers, and administrators for local charity organizations. Following the meeting, we would hear from every single person in the program and either congratulate them on their successes during the week or direct them to the support that they needed. It is an incredibly supportive environment and has demonstrated how the system can truly help people in need.

What would you like to share with our donors?

I want to sincerely thank you for your generous support through the Catalyst Fellowship. Because of your contribution, I was able to accept an unpaid internship this summer as a judicial clerk for the Hon. Richard W. Rich. This experience has been both meaningful and formative for my future career in law.

This opportunity has allowed me to learn firsthand about the inner workings of the courtroom, deepen my understanding of the justice system, and serve my community in a tangible way. Without the financial support of the Catalyst Fellowship, taking on this role would have been a real challenge. Your investment in students like me truly makes a difference—not only in our individual paths, but in the broader mission of building a more just and equitable legal system. I hope my future work in public interest law and my work for my community serves as repayment enough.

Thank you again for your belief in my potential and for helping make this experience possible.