This experience allowed me to take note of how different judges run their courtrooms and what they expect from the attorneys that come before the bench. This was especially important for me as I plan to enter a legal field that requires litigation and representing everyday people who are at their most vulnerable.

One of the opportunities that stood out to me the most was my chance to write a bench memo for Judge James as soon as I began my time in her chambers. I had a chance to review some of the preliminary information before the trial and had a chance to ask questions after the trial, but I felt a bit uneasy going into my brief. Knowing in the back of my mind that whatever conclusions I came to would influence the outcome of the trial, I did not take this responsibility lightly. I thought back to the brief I wrote my first year in law school for guidance and hoped for the best. While I did not get to see the final hearing, I am confident in the training I received during my LAWR course at Wake.

Without the support from PILO and its generous donors, this experience would not have been possible. As a law student, I am left with very little time to work in order to save money to support myself during the summer. While there are certainly summer internships that offer paid positions, I am passionate about public interest law which usually means my opportunities will be unpaid. When I accepted my judicial internship, my first concern was how I would manage my living expenses, but PILO eased this burden and allowed me to focus on getting the most out of my experience.