From to classroom to the courtroom

This summer is a bit different of a summer for me, as far as classes are going. I am in the home stretch, this summer and 2 more semesters to go, then I should be finished with law school (whew!).

Last summer I took 2 classroom lecture style classes, this summer is a bit different. I am taking a classroom lecture style class, constitutional criminal procedure 1, and I am also taking a for-credit internship at the office of the public defender in Cecil County. I may have mentioned this previously, as for 2 days/week the 12-minute commute is incredibly relaxing compared to my normal hour+ commute to the city for work and/or school.

The semester is more than just a quick commute 2 days a week—I’m actually learning the real-life application of the law. Perhaps I am taking the perfect combination of “classes” by learning about constitutional criminal law issues and applying them in a corresponding internship. It could be, also, the con crim pro 1 class is probably the “closest to the action” as any other course I’ve taken in the first 2 years of my law school career. Sure, most courses tackled issues that are real, but still somewhat at arm’s length. Here, I’m meeting clients who are dealing with situations in the internship that I’ve learned about or will learn about in the class. Hearing comments and conversation from lawyers in the OPD office about things like “wing span” and then 2 weeks later learn about the relevance of what the “wing span” argument is for what police officers can and cannot search subsequent to a legal arrest.

Not only is this perhaps the perfect summer combination of courses, but it also serves as a good “priming of the pump” so to speak for my fall semester, when I will be involved in the rule 16 attorney practice clinic program, also at the public defender’s office.

Good times, and looking forward to rounding out the last year of law school, and of course taking the bar next July!