The time I spent in Texas and Mississippi was life changing. I worked with the most inspirational people—lawyers, mitigation specialists, and clients—I believe I will ever have the privilege to meet. What I remember most are the hours I spent getting to know my client in Houston, his hopes and fears, and his memory of life before his conviction. It is only after I formed that relationship that I started to understand the unmitigated violence of an unjust criminal justice system.

In Mississippi, I was entrusted with the responsibility to carry out investigative and legal research on my own. I spent a significant amount of my time outside of the office knocking on doors and interviewing potential witnesses, visiting clients, and shadowing lawyers at trial. I have never had a more challenging, nor more fulfilling, professional experience. There are countless memories—talking with my client’s family in their front room, getting lost while driving in the rural Deep South, and helping lawyers prepare for trial—that I will never forget.

My internships with Amicus have not only opened many doors along my career path, but have also defined my understanding of the law.