As an Intern Investigator at the Public Defender Services in the Trial Division and the Civil Division, my current routine consists of providing pro-bono legal representation and advocacy to indigent defendants facing a loss of rights and liberties in the District of Columbia. The Trial Division provides legal representation in the most serious and complex adult offenses in criminal proceedings, handling cases involving DNA evidence, expert testimony, and multiple-count indictments. The Civil Division provides legal representation to adults and juveniles which may have restraints on liberties, including adverse immigration consequences and the loss of parental rights, housing, property, and employment due to criminal allegations. On a daily basis, I perform fundamental investigative work in the field which includes locating and interviewing witnesses, performing criminal background checks, serving subpoenas, preparing court exhibits, canvassing crime scenes, writing investigative legal memorandums, and evaluating a variety of surveillance footage. Located in Judiciary Square, I have opportunities to view prominent hearings and trials at the District of Columbia Circuit Court and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. During a two-week mandatory training, I learned about eyewitness identification procedures, defense theories, the collection, preservation, and documentation of evidence, differentiating surveillance footage, crime scene investigation, writing detailed investigative memorandums, interviewing techniques, and how to navigate the District of Columbia. The swing sets which pose as chairs with large picnic tables at the Navy Memorial became a customary gathering location for lunch.
Since the internship requires time, patience, and effort, I prepared the night before with a detailed investigative task checklist along with professional attire. During field investigative work, I will speak to clients at the Central Detention Facility, perform surveillance, interview witnesses, victims, and families, collect and analyze disciplinary, criminal, and probation records, deliver time-sensitive discovery materials, and canvas crime scenes to establish a timeline. As I spend a majority of investigative resources assisting indigent defendants in Southeast, District of Columbia, I always bring another investigative intern as a safety precaution and to have another detailed description about the investigations which transpire. I complete a majority of desk work at the office to be able to communicate and collaborate in-person with attorneys, investigators, law clerks, investigative interns, and other supportive personnel. Resource materials may be necessary to conduct investigative tasks such as computers, printers, and hand-held discovery along with common legal office supplies such as statement paper, notepads, and pens. I often will analyze police body-camera and surveillance footage, using investigative resources to conduct background research, and write investigative legal memorandums to record any investigative tasks conducted to ensure the information is admissible in a court of law.
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 as the Capital of the United States. After completing investigative tasks, I often walk a short distance to the National Mall to visit the Smithsonian Museums. I have been able to understand, analyze, and document differentiating cultures and histories presented throughout a variety of national museums. A few favorites thus far are the American History Museum, the American Indian Museum, the African American History and Culture Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Art Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Archives Museum, and the Holocaust Museum. I occasionally visit federal buildings such as the United States Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the Department of Justice. 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.
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