Summer Public Interest Fellows 2025

How would you describe your experience?

My experience this summer has been eye-opening and rewarding. Working with Mr. Mussari as an Assigned Counsel has helped me realize that I want to be a criminal defense attorney. I've learned that while many criminal cases involve the same legal issues and principles, each case is vastly different and challenging in their own ways. The intricacies of criminal law that I've begun to learn are more than I expected before interning, and growing my knowledge has been very exciting. I have always wanted to be a criminal defense attorney, and actually getting to experience what it is like has been eye-opening and thrilling. Additionally, being able to utilize the knowledge I obtained in my criminal law class and expanding upon it is very fulfilling. Working with clients who otherwise would not be able to afford representation has been extremely rewarding. I've had the opportunity to work with several criminal defense attorneys and learn the different mindsets lawyers approach criminal defense with, and begin to learn what kind of attorney I want to be.

What impacted you the most?

The first trial I witnessed impacted me the most. My first day interning with Mr. Mussari was a trial, where the defendant, only three months older than me, was facing fifteen years in prison. I was able to sit at the table with the defense attorneys as a member of the defense team and aid in the trial. During an objection, I was able to assist Mr. Mussari in determining what exactly was recorded in the body camera footage from the notes I took. Though it was a small moment, it showed me that I can assist at trial and that I want to become a criminal defense attorney. I worked on the trial for sixteen hours each day that week, feeling like I was making a difference being able to help at the trial and help someone in their defense.

What would you like to share with our donors?

I would like to deeply thank the donors of the Kaplan and Reynolds Fellowship, for allowing me to pursue a field of law that my passion is only growing for. Because of this fellowship, I was able to determine what kind of lawyer I want to be, and further my pursuit in advocating for those who may not be able to afford representation otherwise. I have learned a great deal, and each day I learn new information about the law and how to be a great lawyer.