As an intern at CVLAS this summer, I think I’ve probably gained more real-world knowledge about the practice of the law than I ever will in law school. I’ve gotten to represent clients before the Virginia Employment Commission, observe courtroom proceedings and client meetings, and write briefs and memos for all kinds of different cases.
The summer has been enlightening and rewarding in a lot of ways. For instance, one of the first clients I encountered was a woman who was about to lose her home and be sued for rent she didn’t owe. At the trial, the judge read a bench memo, listened to a great oral argument from my supervising attorney, and ultimately ruled in favor of our client. And I wrote that bench memo. It was a really amazing feeling to know I had done something to help someone who really needed and deserved it.
On the other hand though, my introduction to the realities of our justice system has been eye-opening in some pretty disappointing ways. Maggie said in an earlier blog post that “the law doesn’t always provide justice,” and even though I think we all know that on some level, it can be really hard to see in action. It’s infuriating to see public benefits agencies deny or withdraw help from people who really need it, even though the whole point of public benefits programs is to help people who really need it. It’s discouraging to see landlords who treat their tenants as nuisances or liabilities, rather than people. It’s heartbreaking when a client’s situation is so bad that the best result in a case is a protective order or a divorce.
And I think, for me, the hardest thing about all of the difficult cases that I’ve seen come through our office this summer is how the deck always seems to be stacked against our clients. About a month ago, we listened to speech from Larry Harley, the 2011 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year. He pointed out that one of the most frustrating things about our society is that “we expect everyone to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but then we turn around and take away their boots.” But he said something else as well—that he is a legal aid lawyer on purpose. And that really resonated with me, because after 9 weeks at CVLAS I’ve come to see how crucial free legal services are for people who have no other options. I can’t imagine where our clients would be if the amazing lawyers and staff of CVLAS weren’t there to make sure that those clients don’t fall through the cracks.
As my internship is starting to wind down, I’ve done a lot of reflecting; about the cases I’ve helped with this summer, about the ups and downs of our justice system, and about the type of lawyer I want to be one day. It’s been challenging, educational, and ultimately, really, really wonderful. I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to spend a summer working with people who are legal aid lawyers on purpose. As long as people like Steve, Marty, Doris, Chris, and Freddie are a part of the legal field, I’m still pretty sure that it’s a field I will be proud to join one day.
You know, provided I pass that pesky Bar thing…
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