Being able to experience twelve weeks at an informative legal internship in the District of Columbia has strengthened my interests in a future career serving as a Public Defender. Through investigations relating to the most serious and complex juvenile and adult crimes, the Public Defender Services has strengthened my interests while providing the experience and education necessary to excel in a career in legal public service. On a daily basis, I performed fundamental investigative work in the field which included locating and interviewing clients, witnesses, victims, and families, collecting and analyzing disciplinary, criminal, and probation records, performing criminal background checks, serving subpoenas, preparing court exhibits, canvassing crime scenes, writing investigative legal memorandums, and evaluating a variety of surveillance footage. Although I was unprepared for an internship in which I would be dedicating an immense amount of time, effort, and attention to providing effective public legal representation, I received mentorship, guidance, and necessary support. Through investigative tasks, I had the opportunity to defend a client’s civil rights, such as effective public legal representation, a fair trial, and advocating for lesser sentences. The Public Defender Services had provided numerous opportunities to strengthen relationships with a community of indigent defendants and established a strong support system surrounded by attorneys, investigators, law clerks, and investigative interns.
As task loads can vary on a day-to-day basis, I have had opportunities to explore what historical national sites the District of Columbia has to offer. After completing investigative tasks, I often walked a short distance to the National Mall to visit the Smithsonian Museums. I spent attention, time, and effort understanding, analyzing, and document differentiating cultures and histories presented throughout national museums. A few favorites thus far are the American History Museum, the American Indian Museum, the African American History and Culture Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Archives Museum, and the Holocaust Museum. Having a hands-on internship supplemented with continuous education about historical events which have shaped social inequalities has been a unique aspect of the experience. I occassionally visit federal buildings such as the United States Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, and Library of Congress. During the weekends, I enjoy exploring a variety of historic neighborhoods, local bookstores, and national parks. With a widely accessible and cheap mass transit system, I have taken day trips to Ocean City in Maryland, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and Historic Old Town Alexandria in Virginia.
After the experience, my original interests and feelings towards future career aspirations to become a Public Defender remains solidified. Although not a path chosen by many, participating in the Criminal Law Internship Program, along with the Global Scholars Program, has provided the platform and resources to research racialized legal injustices in the District of Columbia while supporting a hands-on investigative experience. Due to cultivating an interest in history and politics, along with providing legal public defense, the CapStone Project has allowed for a cultivation of both interests by cultivating knowledge about the criminal reform legislative process in the District of Columbia. As the CapStone Project focuses on the District of Columbia’s Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2023, the research provided opportunities to research criminal legislation which affects indigent defendants such as pre-trial release, sentencing, and evidence admissibility. To learn about local legislative processes, I had the opportunity to interview Special Counsel of Policy and Legislation Katerina Semyonova, who investigates, advocates, and represents the Public Defender Service regarding legislation pending before the District of Columbia Council. On the behalf of the Public Defender Services, Katerina Semyonova participates on the District of Columbia Sentencing Commission, which refines structured-sentencing systems at the District of Columbia Superior Court, the RedBook Committee, which formulates jury instructions, and the Criminal Code Reform Commission, which develops criminal code reform recommendations for the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
After graduation, I plan to pursue a Juris Doctor specialized in Social Justice and Human Rights to pursue a career in legal public service. During a gap year, I plan to provide international legal public services and conduct an internship at the United States House of Representatives to acquire knowledge about criminal justice reform. With the variety of scholarship, leadership, and service opportunities which I have experienced, I hope to serve as a Public Defender. After participating in legal internships, academics, and service, I hope to represent indigent defendants accused of the most serious and complex crimes. With years of experience, I will be able to participate in local, state, and national legislation by promoting systemic criminal reforms to the local public defender system in impoverished communities. I hope to continue participating in similar experiences to learn how to be an effective trial attorney.
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