Joanna Howe ’16 is interning at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in Newark, N.J.
Colgate students are participating in internships in a variety of fields and locations this summer. This post is by Joanna Howe ’16, a political science major from Colts Neck, N.J., who is interning with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice.
This spring, I was named a recipient of the Levine-Weinberg Endowed Summer Fellowship. This fund was made possible by a generous Colgate alumnus and has allowed me to pursue an internship at a nonprofit law firm, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice.
The organization works out of McCarter and English, a large firm located in Newark, N.J. Since 2001, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has assisted economically disadvantaged children and adults by ensuring them equal treatment within the justice system through pro bono representation, free legal clinics and seminars, and by providing other legal advice at no cost to the client.
As an office intern, I have worked directly with clients at each stage of the legal process. Thus far, I have aided the office’s lawyers in the creation of referral lists that allow clients to contact partner organizations that may further help them with their legal matters.
I have also been lending a hand at legal clinics across New Jersey, where I work alongside volunteer attorneys to provide advice to clients who may be seeking criminal record expungement, disability assistance, driver’s license restoration, child custody support, and more.
Last summer, I divided my time between working at a nonprofit organization in a small village in Uganda and working for Colgate alumni full time at a law firm in Pennsylvania. I enjoyed both of these experiences and attempted to combine my favorite attributes of each when searching for a job this summer; I wanted to unite my interest in the legal field with my passion for using the opportunities I have been given to assist those who need it most. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice seemed like the perfect fit.
Currently, one of the firm’s volunteer attorneys has been working diligently with a critically ill client who, because of sickness, has been unable to work and is fighting a legal battle against creditors. It is inspiring to witness lawyers assist others in this way. It proves that one can use a law degree to help those who are suffering.
Because of this, my internship at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has encouraged me to pursue a career in the legal field. It has shown me that, by attending law school and utilizing the tools my education will give me, I can help individuals in need, too.
Although I am still unsure as to where my professional life will lead, I now know that a future in nonprofit law is a worthwhile and exciting possibility.