In Spring 2024, I spent my final semester of college in Washington D.C. through the SUNY Washington Internship Program offered by SUNY Brockport. It was an incredible and life-changing experience filled with hands-on work experience, new friends, and connections in our nation’s capital.
I interned for Rising For Justice, a legal services nonprofit organization that assists low-income Washington D.C. residents with civil legal matters. I worked for the organization’s Expungement Program, which assists clients with the process of filing a motion to seal or expunge their D.C. criminal records. Record sealing and expungement are two avenues for clearing an individual’s criminal record. Both can have positive effects as it may make it easier for someone with a criminal history to obtain employment and housing opportunities which will improve the trajectory of their life.
My internship felt like a real job. Interns at Rising For Justice are responsible for assisting attorneys with managing clients’ cases. Some of my tasks included responding to Expungement Program inquiries through phone and email, conducting intake interviews and pre-motion interviews with clients, managing clients’ case progress using an online software program and spreadsheets, and requesting documents from the Court. My favorite part of this internship was interacting with clients and hearing their stories. I learned so much about the D.C. record sealing and expungement process and how to effectively and compassionately communicate with clients. The experience enhanced my organization, writing, and time-management skills and made me confident that a career in public interest law is the right direction for me.
My experience in D.C. was not just spent working. Through the SUNY Washington Internship Program, I was able to attend Friday classes around the city, featuring guest speakers and visits to organizations throughout the District. Some of my favorite classes include visiting the D.C. Superior Court, the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the White House. These classes educated us about the various agencies that operate in D.C. as well as potential career opportunities within the organizations.
Besides work and classes, I was lucky to live with or close to my classmates. We had a great time visiting museums, monuments, restaurants, and events in D.C. Our entire program went to a Nationals baseball game, which was one of the highlights of our time together. It was amazing to share this experience with such inspiring and motivating individuals.
I am so grateful to have spent my final semester in Washington D.C. I highly recommend that students participate in the SUNY Washington Internship Program as it had a fantastic impact on my life.