"I was
the first fellow placed at the Public Defender's Office.
I did a numerous array of things. I conducted arraignments
and participated in the intake of new clients. My experience
was very fulfilling. I was fortunate enough to get an important
assignment on the Danny Rolling's case. I prepared a 15-page
memo on [the case]. This was evidence to me that [they]
were willing to give the fellows an opportunity to work
on critical and challenging issues." "Working at Three Rivers
Legal Services has been a wonderful experience. [They] welcome
fellows into their ..."family" and sincerely appreciate
our assistance and input. We...attend weekly staff meetings
where applicants are discussed and a decision is made [how
to handle the case]....I received wide exposure to differing
issues involving low-income clients, [such as] access to
courts, utilities shut-offs, evictions, school loan defenses,
consumer deceptive acts and practices, paternity, parental
unfitness, public housing housekeeping standards....The
fellowship program permits studnets with an interest in
public service to meet others with like interests and learn
more about the field."
"Most
of my projects at Three Rivers were comparatively small
...I could usually complete the research and memo within
a week or two. However, I was also involved in ...larger
projects... I took on a project myself to make assistance
with the Earned Income Tax Credit a standard part of what
Three Rivers gives its clients. My goal is to develop a
system where the screeners and attorneys routinely make
sure that each eligible client knows how to receive the
EITC...I plan to specialize in estate planning and tax,
and working at Three Rivers gave me the opportunity to discover
just how to adapt my skills into meaningful pro bono work."
"I encouraged
second year students to participate...because of the wonderful
experience I had at [Florida Institutional Legal Services].
I researched a habeas inmate petition, worked on an informational
pamphlet for families [of inmates] and researched various
smaller items having to do with inmates and their access
to family, as well, I reveiwed an inmate request for legal
assistance and travelled to Claremont to view his DOC record
and assess the validity of his claims."
"My participation
consisted of legal research and writing for the Litigation
Division of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
I had the opportunity to research a wealth of legal issues,
many of which were not environmental: civil rights, sovereign
immunity, submerged lands, bonds, dredge and fill, endangered
species, Rivers and Harbors Acts, and consumptive water
use. Additionaly, there were many practical experiences
that typical legal research experiences do not afford. I
was often included in litigation strategy discussions and
was able to sit in on a couple policy meetings."
"I had
already been certified as a volunteer [Guardian ad Litem]
two years before, but now I was to be working closely with
the program attorney....Initially, I was working only on
dependency issues, but soon I was doing research, drafting
motions, investigating, and attending hearings for both
the dependency and family law divisions. Most of my work
included researching and some field work. In addition, I
was given my own dependency/delinquency case for which I
had to cdo my own investigating and report writing."
"I consider
my experience at the PD's office invaluable, because I acquired
practical knowledge and skills...Jennifer was a demanding
supervisor who felt that I should get the most out of my
internship, so she...allowed me to get quite a bit of first-hand
experience...I was allowed to go in the ...Alachua County
Detention Center [where] I interviewed clients within one
to two days after their arrest. It was my first visit to
a county jail and it was my first time interfacing with
a real client....I participated when Jennifer deposed witnesses,
and when she talked to clinets in her office about [strategy].
I participated in Docket Day, and I was responsible for
interacting with local agencies when a client's release
was dependent on finding alternative facilities."
"[At Southern
Legal Counsel] my primary duties included researching legal
issues and writing memoranda of law. I spent a large percentage
of my time on one case which involved a young boy who is
deaf and blind. As part of my involvement in the case, I
was able to attend several days of his administrative hearing."
"My work
for the Battered Women's Clemency Project started with...research
of sociological and criminological data,[resulting in} two
lengthy memos....[I prepared a] Chapter 119 request of all
state attorneys for files dating back ten years on women
who killed their abusers...[it] took several amendments
before it could be tailored to the computer database capacities
of each...office...My third major project was to interview
a woman inmate in Ocala, for purposes of compiling her life
history. On the first two visits I observed [a private attorney];
thereafeter I met with the inmate independently on six different
visits...To prepare for these visits, I read the inmate's
file [other petitions and other life histories]. Also...I
conducted three telephone interviews with the inmate's family
members...[I completed the life history] near the end of
my fellowship, composed of 25 single spaced pages...As a
result of my work, Ms Greenberg has asked that I be co-counsel
on this inmate's case during the lengthy petitioning process."
"It was the best part of law school."
"...my first opportunity to combine an academic interest
with a social issue that exists in the real world..." "The
experience was invaluable." "Without the fellowship I would
have been unable to get the position at Legal Services of
Greater Miami. I applied to law school to be a public interest
lawyer. The fellowship made that possible." "A wonderful,
worthwhile experience..." "...a tremendous learning experience,
both from an intellectual...and an emotional standpoint."
