This past summer, during the months of June through August, I had the opportunity to intern at the Madison County Commonwealth's Attorney's office. Throughout my internship, I learned about the daily life of a prosecutor, the inner workings of the Virginia court system, preparing cases, and various aspects of the legal field. I enjoyed being able to watch court cases, speak with various legal professionals, read dockets and court cases, and more. I was also able to watch a jury trial, which was very exciting, as it was a wonderful educational experience and it provided a lot of valuable insight.

In addition to the Commonwealth's Attorney, Clarissa Berry, there were several people involved in giving me an amazing internship experience. Some of these people include the Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney (Wade Gelbert), the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney (Alex Hamilton), the judges of the General District and Circuit Courts, the Clerks of Court, the other interns, and the rest of the wonderful people that I had the opportunity to meet.

My mentor for this project, including my internship and community service project, is Clarissa Berry. Clarissa Berry is the elected Commonwealth's Attorney of Madison County. Prior to being elected, Ms. Berry graduated from the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond. As the Commonwealth's Attorney, she carries out the prosecution of misdemeanors and felonies in Madison County, continuously maintaining Madison as a safe place. She works to pursue justice, as well as to ensure the protection of constitutional and legal rights. I have had a wonderful experience learning from her.