This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Džana Borović, 3L (2027), Judicial Intern for Judge Brindisi in the Northern District of New York
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
A typical day at the office starts at 9am where I am greeted by our amazing security at the front entrance of the federal courthouse. From there I head into the office where I begin working on assignments from the Term Clerks or Career Clerk. These projects typically consist of performing legal research, writing, and editing. If I ever have any questions the Clerks are very welcoming to answering them. After a long day of hard work, I head out of the office at 5pm.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
Choosing this internship was a natural decision for me given my familiarity with Judge Brindisi’s career having grown up in the Utica area. Throughout my life I have watched Judge Brindisi’s career progress from a lawyer to a Congressman and finally to the federal bench. I have always respected his deep commitment to public service. When this opportunity presented itself, it was the perfect way to learn from someone whose values are grounded in the community that I am dedicated to serving.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
My proudest moment during my internship was attending the naturalization ceremony held at our federal court. As a child of immigrants, I understand firsthand how difficult and lengthy the path to citizenship can be. Watching that ceremony was incredibly heartwarming, it felt like a full circle moment that reminded me why I chose this path.
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
When I first came to law school, clerking was not on my career radar. I simply did not know enough about the profession to consider it. However, this internship changed everything and showed me the vital role that clerks play in our judiciary system. Now I am seriously considering starting my career as a Term Clerk. As someone with a naturally curious personality, this environment allows me to learn something new everyday and explore all types of areas of law.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Professor Dolak’s class gave me a strong foundation of civil procedure which has been very helpful in understanding the legal standards for court proceedings. While my Legal Research and Writing classes were equally impactful because I went from having zero legal writing knowledge to having the skillsets necessary to excel at my internship. A huge credit to that goes to Professor Wallach who brought his 15 year expertise as a Career Clerk to the classroom!