2025 Summer Public Interest Fellow

How would you describe your experience?

My experiences this summer were absolutely remarkable. Dealing with real people and real cases brought an exciting experience and work ethic that motivated me to perform at my best abilities day in and day out. I was blessed to have an amazing supervisor, team of staff, and fellow interns that gave me positive and constructive feedback regularly. I was introduced to members of the appellate division which allowed me to sharpen up my writing and argumentative skills. I started off my days watching interrogation videos and body cam footage from arrests. I proceeded with reading transcripts from arraignments and probable cause hearings, procedures that I never even knew existed.

As a summer legal intern at the Monroe County Public Defender's Office, I had the opportunity to engage meaningfully in all stages of criminal defense practice while serving indigent clients. I conducted legal research and drafted memoranda, suppression motions, and evidentiary objections, often under urgent deadlines. I also attended arraignments, bail hearings, and suppression hearings, observing experienced attorneys advocate for clients facing serious charges. Working closely with attorneys, investigators, and social workers, I developed a deeper understanding of the systemic challenges our clients faced including , substance abuse, and the criminalization of poverty.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the internship was the direct client interaction. Whether preparing mitigation narratives or discussing legal strategy, I learned how critical it is to meet each client with empathy, respect, and unwavering commitment. I also observed how procedural rules-especially around pretrial detention and evidentiary motions-can either protect or undermine a client's rights depending on how vigorously they are litigated. This summer affirmed my commitment to public defense and sharpened both my legal analysis and my resolve to pursue a career advocating for the most marginalized.

What impacted you the most?

What impacted me most during my internship at the Monroe County Public Defender's Office was the opportunity to work directly with real clients, to craft legal arguments on their behalf, and to observe the realities of courtroom advocacy in practice. While law school teaches the theoretical underpinnings of criminal law and procedure, this internship immersed me in the practical, human-centered dimensions of public defense. The experience profoundly shaped my understanding of what it means to advocate for marginalized individuals and affirmed my commitment to pursuing a career in public defense.

From the outset, I was entrusted with meaningful client-facing responsibilities. I met with individuals facing a wide range of charges from misdemeanors to serious felonies-and learned how to build trust with people navigating one of the most difficult moments of their lives. These were not abstract legal scenarios; they were people with families, jobs, histories, and fears about what the criminal process might mean for their futures.

The most impactful moments came when I was able to sit down with a client, listen to their side of the story, and help translate their lived experience into a legal defense. Whether preparing factual summaries for mitigation, assisting in drafting letters to the court, or explaining procedural developments, I gained a deeper appreciation for the role of communication and trust in effective advocacy. I learned that being a public defender means more than legal representation it means standing beside a client, giving them a voice in a system that often seeks to silence or overlook them.

What would you like to share with our donors?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the donors to the NYS Catalyst Fellowship for making my summer at the Monroe County Public Defender's Office possible. Because of your generosity, I was able to spend the summer doing work that was not only educational, but also profoundly meaningful.

This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to a career in public defense. Your support gave me more than an internship it gave me purpose, perspective, and the tools to begin building the kind of lawyer I hope to be. Thank you for believing in students like me and in the power of public service. Your investment truly makes a difference.