Fall 2012 Internship: Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General
My position at the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General would be described as an assistant to the Domestic Violence Unit of the Criminal Division. The experience I have gained in the field of Law by doing this internship has shown me what the day to day activities of a practicing attorney is like. This experience has given me insight that I do not believe could ever be replicated in a classroom.
One of my primary goals for this internship was to understand how a case makes its way through the court system. I achieved this goal by asking my co-workers about this process. Many of them are prosecutors who have been practicing for years, thus they were very knowledgeably on this subject. Furthermore by speaking with these professionals I was able to get a basic understanding of how a case moves through the court system. For instance, for criminal cases, the process begins with a victim’s statement to the police. From there the Judge signs an arrest warrant. The Defendant is then arrested and brought before the District Court. Depending on the circumstances, there will then be a Pre-arraignment Conference, an Arraignment, a Pre-Trial Conference, and then the case could go to Trial.
Another goal I set for myself was to get a fundamental understanding of proper courtroom etiquette. I was able to achieve this goal in a similar fashion as my other objective. Having access to numerous Attorneys’ makes this goal vary attainable. What I was able to learn is that when you are in court, the most important idea that you should learn is “respect”. Without respect there is no foundation, and the house, so to speak will crumble. All parties must have respect for the Judge as a representative of the court, and the legal system. Some fundamental examples of proper etiquette are to always dress professionally and to arrive on time, or early. Always refer to the Judge as “your Honor” and an attorney must stand up, if he or she wishes to address the court. There are numerous examples of etiquette, but this is a basic overview of proper procedure in Court.
In
summation, this internship has been incredibly influential regarding my future
goals. Working for the Attorney Generals Office shows Law Schools that I have practical experience in the field. It also shows that I
have observed first-hand how criminal cases are brought to Court and how they
are tried. This internship could be the deciding factor for me in terms of
admission boards. With that in mind, this internship could affect my future
career in a profound way.
To view my complete Learning Contract, please click HERE
