The end of my internship

This week was my last week working as the Pace Women Justice Center. As usual the week flew by and Friday came faster than I expected...

I was so happy that my co-worker Melissa and I finished working with files. We arranged all the necessary files in file cabinets and left the center a bit more organized than the way it was when we first came. I mean all i can say is that this was just a great and rewarding experience. I didn't expect to have such great opportunity this summer. I enjoyed every aspect of the internship, from reading the client files, learning how to use time matters, going to court and sitting on cases, having a first hand experience in seeing a lawyer from the center represent a client, doing few here and there office works, meeting my co-workers, chatting with few of the lawyers at the center, and getting the chance to also talk to some law students. I couldn't have wished for anything better for this internship. I didn't really know what I was in for when I first started, but all I can say is it was a sad Friday. It's almost like I didn't want it to end, I will miss waking up on Monday knowing I have somewhere to go, I'll miss Natalie my boss. She was just such a great boss, hopefully all my future bosses are as nice as she was to me. :)

But it's over and it really helped me in deciding whether or not I wanted to continue with becoming a lawyer. I really think after college, I will continue into law school. I think my interest decreased because I wasn't really sure why I wanted to go to Law School in the first place, but I realized that it's really something I want to pursue and follow my career goal. I also thought about following other interests after College, but I rather go with Law school after I graduate and continue from there. Hopefully it all goes well for me in the future! :)

A great thanks to CSSP for getting me the internship. I honestly appreciate it! :)

Now I get to relax for two weeks before my fall semester begins....

Xoxo

Court...Court...Court!!!

Okay let's start with some exciting news.....I went to court this week!! Not only once, but twice! If you've been keeping up with my blog, you'd understand how much I have been looking forward to this. 

On Tuesday we made the trip to the Yonkers court, which felt like a whole new world from the white plains court. The feel/type of building was different, it was a much smaller environment and honestly nothing compared to that of White Plains. Even though it wasn't as beautiful or big or as exciting, it was still cool to go and meet the other attorneys that I've heard so much about but never actually met. We didn't spend the whole day there as we had done when we went to WP but we did get tot sit in on a couple of cases. A particular one dealt with our client seeking an order of protection against her significant other. Nothing we've never dealt with before, but the client never mentioned that the boyfriend was the legal parent of two of her kids, so now while the case was been presented in front of the judge, our lawyer has to now find a way to figure out visitation rights for the boyfriend. I mean she was okay with the visitation rights, since she claimed he was good with the kids, she just wants him to stay away from her. But it would have been a lot better if she had told the lawyer in advance about the two kids so they would have worked out times and dates on which the boyfriend can spend time with his two kids before coming forth before the judge. To make it even worst, both our client and her boyfriend did not speak English at all and they had to share an interpreter. But everything was pretty smooth after that. Overall my experience at Yonkers Court was good, but not as a great as White Plains.

But things got better when I found out that on Thursday I would be going back to White Plains court to sit in on a trial. a case one of the lawyers at the center has been working on for weeks. I of course was excited for this....a trial? Cool right!?

Well I can't say much, but the whole case has to do with this guy who instead of sticking to getting a divorce from our client, he wanted the divorce to become an annulment, which meant that the marriage never happened. This would be a slick move considering our client is an immigrant and the annulment would get her deported and she wouldn't be able to tell about all the abuse that went on in the marriage. However, she was able to get the assistance of our lawyers who were willing to help her get the justice she deserves. The day of  the trial, things weren't as exciting as I had expected just because instead of going to trial there ended up being a settlement. Which was honestly for the best, just because sometimes a trial isn't always needed and the settlement was better at the end. Even though I didn't to see a trial, it was still a great case to sit in on, and one of the most interesting cases I've heard about all summer. 

Honestly, just seeing the client so appreciative of the services we have provided for her, and being so grateful    

really just made me realize that I can see myself as a lawyer. I know you're thinking MAKE UP YOUR MIND KRISTIA! But I do have a mindset on my future career and what this experience has brought me. For that, you'd have to wait for my last blog post next week. 

Xoxo