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Law student Shannon shares her internship experiences of working with a private criminal defence attorney in Texas.
Which company did you do your internship with?Â
I was based in Lubbock, Texas, with Richard Wardroup - a private criminal defence attorney. Â
What did your internship involve?Â
The first week of my internship I attended the Rusty Duncan conference in San Antonio and was able to network with many lawyers. The next two weeks were spent preparing for a double homicide trial. This included reviewing all the discovery in the case, creating a timeline of events, summarizing police interviews, and working with the defence team to formulate a plan. I then spent two weeks attending the trial and I learned so much during that time. Once the trial was over, I started working on a forensic evidence manual for lawyers, editing the manual and researching case law. Â
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What was the most valuable thing you learned?Â
I learned how much teamwork it really takes to represent a client in court. And the sheer amount of preparation that goes into a trial. Â
Did you face any significant challenges during your internship?Â
My biggest challenge was probably the emotional side of things; it's a heavy burden knowing that you’re playing a part in trying to get someone their freedom. Â
What was the highlight of your internship?Â
The highlight for me was absolutely the people I got to meet. I have made amazing connections for life and I'm so grateful for that. Â
How did BCU help you in undertaking your internship?Â
The course was extremely helpful in preparing me for the kind of tasks I was given. For example, writing briefs and motions, and preparing summaries. Â
Do you think your internship has benefitted your career prospects?Â
Absolutely, 100 per cent. I learned so much during those eight weeks that I have used ever since in all my studies and further internships. I know this experience made me so much better at my job. Â
Do you have any advice for students starting a law internship?Â
Give it 100 per cent and go out of your comfort zone. Sometimes the tasks that scared me the most ended up being the ones that I learned the most from. Â