Caitlyn Kelley '26

My experience as a summer intern at the Erie County District Attorney's Office was educational and very enjoyable. I got to witness the Assistant District Attorneys in action in the courtroom, assist them with research and writing motions, and learn how the criminal justice system functions. I also got to watch body-worn camera footage, read police reports, and write trial scripts for the attorneys.  I even got to do a mock trial with them. One of the things I enjoyed most was seeing the different kinds of people in court and how the prosecutors decide how to deal with the cases. I found every day interesting because every day was different. In addition to getting to experience daily life in court, I was able to hear from other attorney guest speakers to expand my knowledge on not just criminal law but other possible career paths. Overall, the experience solidified my interest in this area of law and gave me a peek into what my life might be like if I continued to follow my interest in criminal law.

During my internship, I was most impacted by hearing and reading everyone's stories. Whether it was speaking to the complainant, reading the police report, or listening to the defendants try to explain why their actions occurred, hearing people talk and how the judges and attorneys responded was very impactful. A few times I questioned whether I would have made the same decision as the judge or attorneys, and I think that inspired me to envision how I would have handled the situation or what argument I would have made. That said, being so involved made me excited to one day get to make my own arguments or plea deals based on all the facts and circumstances.

I would like to thank the donors to the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program (BPILP) for allowing me to experience this internship. Without their generosity, I would not have been able to commit to a summer of experiencing the criminal justice system and learning new things. My summer internship provided me with interesting stories, useful skills, and insight into the field of criminal law, none of which would have happened without your generous donations.