Hometown: Dexter, MI
Major and class standing: Humanities Pre-Law, Junior
Where you interned: Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office, Ann Arbor, MI
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
I was a legal intern assigned to the misdemeanor division to support and assist Chelsea Vergiels, an assistant public defender at Washtenaw County. I helped with facilitating client communications, maintaining and updating case records, preparing legal documentation, observing court proceedings and drafting detailed notes, and assisting with administrative case management responsibilities. My cases often concerned traffic, driving while intoxicated, or domestic violence. I also filled in where other attorneys needed assistance within Chelsea’s team as well, taking notes for them, updating spreadsheets and data systems, or checking people in at court to ensure the attorneys could find their clients. I got to go behind the bar and sit at the attorney’s desk and meet so many people, including paralegals, other public defenders, prosecutors, etc. It was a wonderful experience, and I am very grateful for this opportunity and all the connections I have made.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
My aunt works as a paralegal for a different company, and I mentioned to her to be on the lookout for anyone looking for a summer intern. Her boss mentioned the program at the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s office, and she sent me the link to apply. I had been searching for a while, with no luck, so this came out of nowhere and worked out! I called on my experience in customer service and my classes at MSU in my application and got the position.
What did your daily routine include?
Each day at my internship looked different. I started the placement at the 14A district, which includes a location at Chelsea, downtown Ann Arbor, Saline, Washtenaw Ave, and Chelsea was at a different location every day. Sometimes she was preparing for trial at home, sometimes she was at the jail, sometimes she was in one of the courthouses, and sometimes there was not much to do. She was newer to the job, so she is still settling into a routine. However, working for public defense means there is not really ever a routine. She got moved halfway through the summer to the 14B district, which is just Ypsilanti, and her other intern, Harper, and I followed. Even at the one courthouse, she still works from home, works at the main office, is in court, sometimes at the jail, and all over the place. We got the schedule the Friday before the following week, and all she asked was that we help two days a week. I often worked more than that, but I also worked a second job, and her schedule was inconsistent, so we did what we could or divided the work. Some days I was in court updating notes all day, and other days I was just calling clients or doing independent work at home. There was no daily routine, which is what I enjoyed most about this internship!
Your favorite experience from the internship?
It sounds cliché, but my favorite part of this experience was all the people I met. Not only did I make wonderful career connections for the future, but I also got to work with the people whom we represent. I got to make their voices heard and help lighten the burden of my attorney. I had more time to talk with them and then summarize what they said to Chelsea to make sure everyone gets the representation they deserve. I got to see very heartwarming cases and watch the legal system actually improve people’s lives. I cried a couple of times in court because it is just a highly emotional and important job that we do, and I am so thankful for this experience.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
My least favorite part was that the schedule was inconsistent. It was fun because it never really got boring, but I wished I had known further in advance when to keep it open, so I could make more of the experience. I got my other work schedule before my internship, so I had to work around that job to make it to the internship. There were some weeks where my schedule did not align with Chelsea’s, and I had to just do work from home, which is not as exciting as witnessing everything in person. It was definitely nice that it was flexible in that sense!
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
I learned an incredible amount about teamwork and commitment to justice through this program. It is one thing to hear about laws or learn about them in a class, but to actually see them changing lives and watch public defenders fight for justice for their clients was indescribable. I did not quite work as a team on a lot of my assignments, but I got to witness what it means to be part of a team. Chelsea worked in the 14B district with two other attorneys, and when one was out in the hall speaking with a client, they would fill in and represent the client called in her absence. The same concept applied when someone was sick or needed a day off. Harper and I also helped the other attorneys with work they needed instead of Chelsea, since their interns were not as available. The goal of a public defender is to defend the public, and that requires helping each other and working as a team. I will use their commitment to each other and to justice to guide my future career!
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
I learned that it can honestly be kind of boring to work as an attorney some days. It is not always exciting trials. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes paperwork and spreadsheets that are equally, if not more, important to prepare for court. It was very fulfilling to help in that process, even though I never got to speak or practice law in court. This experience fueled my goal of attending law school, although I am still not fully sure what area of law I want to pursue. I am hoping to get more internships or job opportunities in the future to explore other areas, but I did enjoy my time in public defense and could see that as something to pursue in the future.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
Take any opportunity you can and network as much as possible. I would not have known about this opportunity without asking around, so it pays off to have a supportive network around you. Although this internship was extremely last-minute and changed my entire summer schedule, I am so grateful I got this opportunity and would not have it any other way!
