Juliana Carter ’13

Major(s): Law & Policy
Internship Site: Cumberland County Courthouse - Carlisle, PA

The Internship:   
I found my internship through a combination of networking and researching.  Not only was my internship posted on DickinsonConnect, but I also already knew my potential supervisor on a personal and academic level.  Judge Guido is the coach for Dickinson Mock Trial on which I participate and serve as Vice President and he was my professor in Negotiation & Advocacy. 

My internship was not project-oriented; rather it focused on the three L’s: look, listen, and learn.  I sat in on various court proceedings, took note of what occurred, and then discussed the day’s events with the Judge in his chambers with my fellow interns.  The best part about this experience was being able to discuss hard cases in a Socratic manner with my peers as well as judges and attorneys. 

The Challenges:   
The most challenging part of my internship was dealing with the emotions that come with seeing more difficult court proceedings such as those involving sexually violent predators, stalkers, murders, and neglectful or abusive parents.  At first, I had to come to grips that these types of criminals even exist in our society and that people are capable of committing such crimes.  After a while, it became easier to separate my emotions from the objective enforcement of the law.  I realized that there are more productive venues to allow my emotions to drive my actions, like working at a women’s shelter or Planned Parenthood.  I learned that while the legal profession certainly allows for positive emotions such as compassion, negative emotions should be channeled not towards punishment but towards prevention and victim services.

The Preparation:   
Negotiation and Advocacy taught me what to look for when analyzing how well an attorney performed his or her duties.  There was certainly a connection between the tenets taught by Judge Guido and the effectiveness of an attorney.  The Judiciary taught by Professor Edlin also prepared me by giving me a thorough background on the structures and procedures of the American judicial system.

Making Connections:   
As the only undergraduate intern, I had a large panel of law students to probe about the admissions process and law school generally.  They were all very helpful and eager to answer my questions even if at times their answers confirmed my fears instead of quelled them.  Overall, my fellow interns helped affirm my desire to pursue law school.

The Future:
Having a judicial internship under my belt adds to my legal experience which is something desired by law schools admissions committees.  This will ultimately contribute to my professional resume as well and give me talking points in interviews.

Tips from Juliana: 
Research thoroughly, be ambitious with your applications, and use resources readily available to you like DickinsonWorks and DickinsonConnect.


*To find out more about how to get an internship, make an appointment with a career counselor. Just call the Career Center at 717-245-1740 or stop by Biddle House.