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As part of my summer internship, I was a judicial intern with Judge Michael R. Amerian at the Los Angeles Superior Court for eight weeks. I gained first-hand experience with the judicial process and developed a deeper understanding of courtroom procedures, legal research, and judicial decision-making. As an undergraduate student intern, my primary responsibility was legal research and developing my legal writing skills.
Throughout the internship, I was also encouraged to observe proceedings in other courtrooms, including civil, criminal, and family law matters. I had the opportunity to witness different types of hearings and observe how attorneys presented arguments, interacted with clients, and responded to questions from the bench. Following these observations, I discussed my takeaways with Judge Amerian and asked questions about the proceedings and legal issues I encountered. Being able to learn directly from a judge and receive immediate guidance made the experience particularly valuable. It allowed me not only to observe the legal system but also to understand the reasoning and preparation behind the work that takes place in the courtroom.
At the beginning of the internship, I wanted to strengthen my legal research and writing skills, gain a better understanding of courtroom advocacy, and develop a more realistic understanding of what a career in law entails. Throughout the internship, I became more comfortable navigating legal authorities, analyzing legal issues, and identifying the information necessary to support a legal argument.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the internship was working alongside law school students. Observing their approach to legal research, writing, and courtroom preparation gave me a clearer picture of the expectations and environment of legal education. It allowed me to visualize what my own experience in law school could look like and motivated me to continue developing the skills I will need to succeed there. This internship gave me an opportunity to experience the legal profession from a perspective that I could not gain solely through academic study.