Hometown: New Buffalo, MI
Major and class standing: Humanities-Pre Law, Senior
Instagram: @rubygiancaspro
Where you interned at: Carpenter & Capt Chartered, Attorneys at Law
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
As a law clerk, my roles and responsibilities included preparing and organizing documentation for immigrant visas, removal cases, persecution, and political asylum cases, applications for citizenship and adjustment of status for submission, contacting clients via email, telephone, and office software, and drafting and compiling papers for immigration and citizenship including affidavits, petitions, motions, and applications.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
I grew up knowing the Lead attorneys and reached out to them and a few others to see if they would take on a summer intern. I sent them my resume and interviewed with them and was offered a position shortly after. I utilized the resume workshop through MSU to build my resume.
What did your daily routine include?
My daily routine included everything I noted above in my roles. I assisted the attorneys however I could by checking the mail as well and going through it for correspondence etc, picking up completed and closed filings, and so on.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
I got to observe a court hearing in Chicago where one of my supervising attorneys was arguing a client case I helped put together and research for. It was exciting to see much of our teamwork in action.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
I think my least favorite part was the learning curve and the nerves of working in a new environment. You get the hang of it with time, but jumping into a fully loaded office can be intimidating if you’re new to it.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
I learned and improved on many skills but I think the skill I really learned about was professionalism. When it comes to law there’s a language and certain behaviors that you really need to hone in on in the office and in the courtroom. After learning about those norms I felt like it made me confident in what professional settings for my future will look like. I think a skill I developed would definitely be equity and inclusion because as an immigration firm you need to do so much research about the world around us. I think when we consider equity and inclusion many of us who reside in the US understand the concept within our country, but learning about DEI in other countries is eye-opening and incredibly informative. It gives you such a wide perspective of what life is like for those around us and those you may have never known about.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
I learned a lot about the law industry but in my area in particular I learned a lot about what it takes to be a strong attorney and what it takes to make it your own. I learned about many people’s stories including my supervisors and it gave me a great understanding of where my goals and priorities should lie and so on. As for my career path, after switching majors countless times, I can confidently say I think I’ve finally landed in the right place. My future plans are to hopefully continue with school whether that be learning more about law or government and what roles I can take to help. I see graduate school in my future for sure!
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
Be proactive in your search for an internship. I reached out to so many places before I found one and I am grateful that I landed where I did. Utilize networking and connections, and if you do not have any go to career fairs or anything that can get your name out. Seek out your opportunities and one will come to you. Remember that you’re on your own time frame so act within the realm of your capabilities plus a little more to push your limits!
