Ian Donnachie '26

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo provides indigent residents of the Western New York region with legal counsel and representation. The Bureau's clientele are often impoverished and have nowhere to turn, and the hands-on experience I had opened my eyes to how integral LABB and other public interest organizations truly are. The attorneys were often stretched very thin due to the sheer volume of cases coming in, but their excellent teamwork helped them keep up with everything. I saw that the attorneys all wanted each other to succeed, and often consulted each other. While this fast-paced environment was undoubtedly stressful at times, the work atmosphere was tight-knit and very upbeat. I believe this common goal to fulfill the mission of Legal Aid helped ease tensions and encouraged working together.

I worked in the Civil Legal Services Unit, where I did the vast majority of my work in housing and matrimonial law. I assisted clients over the phone with their intake forms so that they could be matched with one of our attorneys. I also went to Buffalo City Court weekly for Attorney of the Morning, where I helped people sign up for legal help. When not interacting with clients, I completed research on statutes and case law for the attorneys, and completed a memo for the Deputy Executive Director of the Civil Unit.  I received valuable feedback that improved my writing. This was a highly positive experience, and I look forward to doing public interest work in the future.

I found that interacting with clients was the most impactful part of my work. I received first-hand exposure to the struggles that indigent clients can face. Clients would call in a panic with problems such as being evicted, living in unsafe conditions with mold, lead, and/or rodents, or having their utilities shut off. This experience revealed to me that low-income citizens' need for legal representation was even larger than I previously thought. Initially overwhelming, the work ultimately strengthened my desire to go into public interest work. At the end of each client conversation, I knew made a positive impact, no matter how small. Seeing the real-world effect my work had on my community was extremely rewarding and fulfilling, and I feel this internship gave me the skills necessary to effectively assist clients.

I would like to express my gratitude and sincere thanks to Neil A. Pawlowski for his donation which made this fellowship possible. Due to this fellowship, I was able to explore my burgeoning passion for public interest law and gain substantial hands-on field experience. With the help of this fellowship, I now feel that I am much more prepared for a career in public interest law and I feel more confident in my ability to help my community.