Even though she hasn’t graduated from law school yet, UDSL student Erica Caudill has spent her summer in Alaska investigating cases, meeting with clients, appearing in court, negotiating offers, and before she returns to class this fall she may have even conducted her own trial.
Where are you externing?
I completed my externship a few weeks back with the Alaska Public Defender Agency in Ketchikan, Alaska (although I am still here working).
Why did you decide to pursue this particular externship opportunity?
I was looking for a summer internship, and I happened to come across this position on lawmatch.com. I applied, and things fell into place for me to be able to work here for the summer. Since it is an unpaid position, I asked for it to fulfill my externship requirement. It was in Alaska, which is a completely unique experience, and I was told I would see the courtroom, which is what I ultimately would like to do.
What is a typical day at your externship like for you?
No day is really typical, because every case is different and every client is involved in a different situation. However, I generally approach each day and each case the same. I usually get to work about 8am and check my email and my schedule for the day to see if I have any clients coming in or if I have to be in court. I review case files, go over them with my client, tell them about his or her rights, and ask how he or she would like to see the case proceed. This can happen either in my office or at the jail. I discuss how the case will progress from my end – how I read the police report and file a request for discovery, I call witnesses and conduct an investigation (if there is a potential for trial, I then fill out an investigation request for our in-house investigator to complete), I review the discovery to make sure the client’s 4th amendment rights have not been violated. I also speak with the District Attorney’s to find out if there is going to be any sort of offer from the state and then I discuss any offers with the client. I can also negotiate the offers either before or after speaking to a client. I have served subpoenas. I appear in front of the judge for a variety of tasks, from bail hearings, to change of plea hearings, to sitting second chair during a trial. I will hopefully be able to defend a client (conduct my own trial) during trial before this experience ends.
What are you learning?
I am learning how to practice criminal law in Alaska, as well as courtroom presence. I am learning how to speak with clients and how to conduct investigations. I have also written various motions so I’m learning how to effectively persuade a judge to suppress evidence by writing how a client’s rights have been violated. I am learning that police reports aren’t necessarily the truth, that there is often times a lot more to the story, and that there will always be conflicting versions of what occurred. I am also learning that a lot of people do not know their rights and really do need the advice of legal counsel. Additionally, I’m learning that a huge level of trust comes from attorney-client privilege as well as a level of respect (being allowed into the jail at pretty much anytime, sitting in on juvenile cases, reading confidential documents, releases of medical information, etc.)
What aspect of the externship has been the most beneficial to your law education?
I think being able to have my own case load has been the most beneficial to my law education. Here I have had hands on experience that I am sure I would not have gotten elsewhere. Here I get to represent clients in court and really help them out and I know that I am making a difference, however slight it may be. I have learned case management and how to make sure I am doing the best thing for my clients.
How has the externship experience impacted your future career plans?
This experience has solidified my desire to be in the courtroom. I am not sure in what capacity, but perhaps patent litigation so I can at least say that time I spent getting that engineering degree was worth it. I like the idea of variety so I’m constantly learning about new things.