St. Lawrence County Public Defender's Office

This summer, I interned at the St. Lawrence County Public Defender’s Office in Canton, NY. In this role, I shadowed multiple attorneys in various courts, expanding my understanding of the justice system and observing both defendant behaviors and attorneys’ strategies. During these fifteen weeks, I had the opportunity to work with the public to understand ways of helping them with their situations and to better understand the challenges they face, along with the challenges attorneys face while trying to help them. 

In this internship, I aided public defenders by writing memos, case notes, and motions. Given the depth of each case, I had to thoroughly research and report each law, regulation, and act under the case's purview. After reviewing each client's background and alleged crimes, I helped the public defender decipher what a sentence may be, and how best to fight it. I also worked with staff attorneys to gain experience in family law and juvenile cases.