The Usual

Another week just went by and I did not get to go to Court...I am again disappointed but I understand that my boss was busy so we could not go. She did confirm that next week we will go! I am going to look forward to that again :) This time around I am sure it will work out, I mean I only have two weeks left of my time at the Center...but let's not think about that yet! 


As for my week, it was simple. I started a new project, which is nice. My co, Melissa and I we have to now find a way to combine all the files we have been working on, so that they are together by year and within each year alphabetically correct. It's more of a hands on project than we have been doing, because we are not using the computer...just working with the files. 


I also came to realize that as much as I was really interested in law once I started this internship, my interest has now decreased by like 10 percent. It's not because of the internship, and it's not like I lost interest in being a lawyer completely. I'll get more into details on that subject later on though, maybe next week when I wrap my thoughts around it all.


For now...I really hope that when you guys read this next week, it's about court and more interesting things!




Xoxo

Being a receptionist for an hour

Was it just me, or did it feel as though it was raining all week?

I honestly can't recall, but I remember rain on Friday so I feel like it rained all the other days as well.

Why does the rain matter? I feel like my energy wasn't as upbeat and happy as usual, and that only happens when it rains :)

I was a little disappointed this week as well because I was looking forward to going to court but it didn't fall through because my boss could not make the trip and take my co and I, so we rescheduled for next week. Hopefully it works out next week, because I really cannot wait to go to court! 

This week was more of the continuation of what I was doing last week, which meant checking files and creating new files in Time Matters (a legal software program).  

I also learned to use the phone/take calls/transfer calls and such. On Tuesday the receptionist went out on her lunch break and I was the only one there so I had to answer calls and it was kind of nerve racking, I wasn't sure what to say when people called or if I would even know the answer to their questions...I was freaking out inside but I went for it, and it went well. I answered few calls and wrote down messages when I didn't know how to help the caller.

Every week I learn something new, which is cool. I wouldn't want it any other way. 

I really do hope that next week, this blog post is about my day in court.

But for now, enjoy this!

xoxo

Time Matters...

Is it me or is summer just flying by....
I feel like it's Monday and then boom it's Sunday and I can't keep track anymore.

Anyways...

This week I learned how to use Time matters. Time Matters is a LexisNexis software program mostly used for legal research purposes.

I was excited when we began working with the program, because I was developing a new skill, something different. Plus, it gets to look good on my resume when put "Familiar with LexisNexis" next to the usual Microsoft word, and excel skills.

I used time matters to create case files for our clients. The files includes information such as the clients name, date of birth, how many people they live with, the date the case was opened, when it closed, the Attorney that represented the client, a safe number for PWJC to reach the client, the respondent/abuser's name, date of birth and any other important information about the Client. This files are needed so that we keep track of the client's cases, for future purposes. It also makes it easier and safer to keep them in a database system on the computer so that there aren't bunch of files laying around in boxes.

So far it's been fun creating this files, and reading up on the clients. I actually enjoy the process. However, I am looking forward to next week, because we are going back to court!!! But this time we are going to the one in Yonkers, so I cannot wait for another great experience at court! :)

Hopefully I get to sit in on an interesting case. Fingers crossed!

Xoxo

Just one of those week

    With Fourth of July right in the middle of the week, this whole week might as well be mini-national holiday, because it sure felt like one. 

    The week was a bit uneventful, since I only worked two days. On Monday, I worked on entering closed divorce and child support case files into excel. I also learned how to print labels, which I thought was pretty cool. So, I am going to share it with you guys.

How To Make a Label:

• Go to Tools in menu, and click Letters and Mailings
• Then click Envelopes and Labels
• Click Labels, and then Options
• Select the number 5162 (only select the number that corresponds with the kind of label you want)
• Then click OK
• Click New Document under Envelopes and Labels and type the information you want
• Then Print!

I am looking forward to next week, to start afresh and see what new things I would be working on!

Xoxo

Client Interview!

      So far, so great! That is what I have to say about my internship at the Pace Women Justice Center. Even the intense morning commute is getting much easier for me. My daily thought process when I go to work is that no matter what I am asked to do, I feel like I am definitely helping in some way or another. For example, We (as in me and the other interns) were asked to enter clients informations and details of their cases into microsoft excel so that the boxes of files were sitting around in the office can be destroyed and the Center will still have copies of them on the computer. It may not be a big deal but I feel as though doing that, is helping the people that work there so that they won't have to take the time to do it, and can focus more on helping resolve the problems of the clients they have now. That's the way I look at it, that some how I am contributing something to the Center and that is a great feeling.

      This week, Natalie asked me and another intern to sit in on a client interview. The client was looking for file for an uncontested divorce, meaning a sort of unchallenged divorce. She knew what she wanted, she was ready to leave the marriage and there was no doubt as to that. Few issues that came up during the interview was that the couple had a house that went up for foreclosure, and the client had to decide whether or not she wanted to include that in the divorce papers or just go ahed with the divorce and let the forcelosure case go on seperately. In the end it was better to just go ahead with the divorce because the client was ready to be done with the marriage and adding the foreclosure issue to it will lengthen the process.

      Other important issues were discussed all in all to really make sure the lawyers will be representing the client in the best way possible for the divorce to go smoothly. A bump in the road will be if the husband gets served with the divorce paper and decides to contest to it for whatever reason. Also, I learned that the client has to either go herself or get someone to serve the husband with the divorce papers and then go sign an affidavit, stating that they did indeed deliver the paper to the husband. If the client doesn't want to go, or feels like she cannot trust anyone to serve the papers she can request that an officer goes to serve the papers. If however the husband is not present when the officer comes, then it's back to square one where the client has to do it herself after all. I thought that was very interesting.

      I feel like I am leraning new things everyday interning and I cannot wait to learn more as the weeks go by.

Xoxo!