What type of pro bono legal service(s) have you performed?
The summer after my first year of law school, I interned for the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas. In my role as an intern, I was able to get hands-on experience and truly make a difference in people’s lives. I interviewed clients and their families, researched their cases, and worked with the appellate division to notify clients of any changes to the law that could help their case. However, what I found to be most rewarding was drafting sentencing memoranda and getting to humanize clients so that not only the judge, but everyone in the courtroom, understood that they are more than an indictment number. During my time here at Syracuse Law, I also participated in the Veterans Legal Clinic where I was able to provide pro bono services to unhoused veterans right here in Syracuse. Getting to give back to those who gave so much was truly an honor.
What benefits did you experience from doing this work?
Working with individuals in the capacity that I have has been one of the most meaningful parts of my law school journey. Each case reminded me that every file placed on my desk contained a snippet of the life of a real person with a much larger story that deserves to be heard. Specifically, working in criminal defense taught me how powerful it can be to simply stand beside someone who feels forgotten by the system. I was able to be the person who treated them with dignity, listened to them without judgment, and help fight for their rights when many people thought they were undeserving of it. Getting to experience law in this raw of a setting is something that you simply cannot learn in class, and I believe that I am not only a better student, but person, because of it.
What would you say to other law students considering pro bono work? Why would you recommend it to others?
I would tell others to engage with pro bono work not because it might be a requirement for admission to a state bar, but because this work is the heart of the legal profession. As law students and future lawyers, we have both the skill set and the power to help people when they are at their lowest. Because of this, it is extremely humbling, inspiring, and grounding work that we should all be honored to do.