This semester, I had the opportunity to intern for a judge at the New York State Supreme court. It was an extremely rewarding experience, as I got to observe oral arguments in court as well as contribute to the publication of judicial decisions. Both of these experiences will stay with me throughout my legal career. Legal research and writing are integral skills that are developed during one’s first year of law school, and I feel really lucky to have gotten a jump start on the development of these skills during college.
Three major takeaways that I have from this internship are the importance of maintaining discipline, being meticulous, and knowing when to ask for help. Since I got to choose my own hours for this internship, discipline was integral to having a rewarding experience. I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to intern under a judge as an undergraduate, but at the same time, it was very challenging to manage my schedule this semester. It was completely on me to carve out enough time to get my work done for the internship. The benefits that I received were equivalent to the work I put in. I think this is something that is stable across internships. Most undergraduate students have to balance several responsibilities. Having discipline is vital in order to reap as many benefits as possible from an internship.
Being meticulous is not necessarily important for all internship experiences, but seeing as I worked for a judge, this was vital for me. The documents that I drafted were published on public forums and used as precedent for future legal cases. I represented the judge in everything that I was doing, which is why it was essential to produce flawless work. As a lawyer, it is equally important to be a good writer and be meticulous about drafting legal documents. No matter how good an argument may be, having a poorly written legal document gives the judge and opposing party a very poor impression. This in turn gives the case a much lower chance of being resolved in one’s favor. While being meticulous is particularly important for those in the legal profession, I think to some degree it pertains to every single field. Everyone has to send a work email at one point or another and being articulate gives the addressee the best possible first impression.
The final takeaway that I have from my internship is the importance of asking for help when needed. I was extremely worried that I was less prepared than my peers who had already attended law school, which is why I was nervous to burden my supervisor with questions. However, he anticipated that I would need some guidance, and was actually impressed that I knew as much as I did. Asking questions helped me learn very quickly and produce the best possible work I could. No matter what field one is in, it is vital to not be afraid to ask for guidance when needed.
In terms of the NACE’s career competencies goals, I would say I improved the most in professional development. In the past, I have been pretty friendly with my employers, even when I worked at law firms. We would joke around during breaks and have conversations about our personal lives. However, working for a court is a completely different experience. Even in casual conversation, I always kept in mind that I was talking to a judge and I needed to convey a proper level of respect in my tone and word choice.
While invaluable, this internship was not responsible for my decision to go to law school. I have known that I want a career in the legal field since my first internship at a law firm at 16 years old. I am passionate about helping victims of abuse and malpractice. This upcoming semester I will be applying to law school, and I am really looking forward to being done with my applications!
