Law students spend summer interning in the nation’s capital

For many FIU Law students summer provided the perfect opportunity to experience real-life, on-the-job situations; they interned at the Miami offices of the State Attorney and the Public Defender, in private firms, government agencies and judicial offices.

Several had the chance to live and work in Washington, D.C. FIU News spoke to four students about their experiences in the nation’s capital.

Lauren Dellacona 3L
Law Clerk with the Environmental Protection Agency in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, specifically in the Planning, Measures and Oversight Division. Dellacona was a recipient of one of the Public Interest Auction grants.

What did a typical day look like?
“I generally attended two to three meetings a day. The intern program had seminars for all of the interns where they brought in one of the staff attorneys who discussed one of the statutes so that we are exposed to it, even if we aren’t in that particular office. Most of what I did was research, but not all of it legal. I spent a lot of time looking at scientific studies, but also at how rules are drafted, and used to think about future rules.”

What have you learned so far that will help you in your future legal career?
“Being able to use specific terminology in a future interview is crucial. In addition, because I was at headquarters, I was exposed to all regional issues, which gave me a more significant understanding of how state and regional EPA offices run. The most important thing I’ve learned, though, is that this is definitely what I want to do for a career!”  

 What do you hope to do when you graduate?
“Ideally, I’d be back at headquarters working for the EPA. Otherwise, I’d like to continue working for the federal government at one of their many agencies doing regulatory compliance.”

Wajiha Rais 3L
Summer Associate – DLA Piper

Describe a typical day.
“A typical day started at 9 a.m. After replying to e-mails, I would start working on my assignment(s), which included lobbying work for a major news corporation, researching and writing a corporate memo on the UCC’s treatment of carbon-offsetting credits, alerting clients on a proposed agency rule concerning the export of cyber-security items, writing a response to a motion to dismiss, etc. Everyday I would go out to lunch with an associate or a partner in order to build relationships with people in the firm. In the afternoon, I would usually either meet with my associate/partner mentors or with the associates for whom I was doing assignments in order to update them on my progress or seek guidance. I participated in after work events organized for summer associates such as a scavenger hunt, karaoke, crab fest and a baseball game.”

What have you learned so far that will help you in your future legal career?
“I’ve learned that you should always think outside the box and go above and beyond what your employer asks of you. If your employer asks you to do A, B and C, then make sure you also do D, E and F! This is what separates the good from the great and gets you noticed among the rest.”

What do you hope to do when you graduate?
“Upon graduation, I will be joining DLA Piper as a full-time associate. I also hope to do scholarship in international criminal law and volunteer my services to organizations that advocate for the liberties and interests of American Muslims.”

Karel Suarez 3L
Intern in the Office of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Assignments included speaking with constituents and providing tours of the capital to VIPs. As a law student intern, Suarez summarized bills for the Congresswoman.

What were some of your most notable assignments?
“I was present at meetings where lobbyists would discuss a bill. I had the chance to write a couple of speeches for the Congresswoman – it was an incredible moment when I heard her say the words that I wrote. I got to do research about potential bills and make recommendations to the Congresswoman about its pros and cons. I got to meet so many Congressmen and Senators while interning on the Hill and attended different meetings and hearings in Foreign Affairs and other committees.”           

 What have you learned so far that will help you in your future legal career?
“I have realized how careful details are in the legal profession. I have seen how different Congressmen discuss different ways to express the same thing. I learned that the law diploma can be used for so many other things, and how powerful and respected you become when you tell others that you are either an attorney or you are studying to be one.”

“What do you hope to do when you graduate?”
“I would like to practice in a private law firm doing corporate or compliance work for five years. Then maybe work for the State Attorney or the U.S. Attorney as a prosecutor for five years. My ultimate goal after getting some law practice experience is to run for office and get personally involved in politics.” 

Kirk Villalón 3L
Served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Rudolph Contreras of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Villalón received the Judge Aaron B. Cohen Scholarship.

What did a typical day look like?
“A typical day at the court involved conducting extensive legal research on a variety of federal and state issues such as Freedom of Information Act requests, federal evidentiary issues and State contract law. I typically drafted at least one substantive memorandum or opinion per week. I was able to sit in on different proceedings in the courthouse: products liability trials, criminal sentencing and patent and trademark infringement hearings.”

Most valuable thing learned?
“I learned the importance of clear, simple and persuasive legal writing as an important factor toward a successful legal outcome.”

Future plans?
“When I graduate I hope to practice commercial litigation with a particular focus on Latin America.”