Sec. 01-02. The Wait Is Over

Investigative Interns for the Maryland County Office Of The Public Defender

I’ve waited a long time to be in the position I’m currently in. I didn’t know going into the end of my junior year I would actually be in Washington, DC and interning at the Montgomery County’s office Public Defenders. So you may ask, what have you been waiting for waiting for? I waited for an opportunity, like working for Office of the Public Defender, so I can learn how to be a better student, professional, set higher standards for myself and create a network with people who can aid in my transformation. That long wait molded me for what the nation’s capital has to offer.

    For the past two weeks I haven’t been able to blog because I've been investing my time settling into my internship site. Firstly, I had to go through what is known as, Informational Investigative Training. The training prepped us for the role and responsibility of an investigator and the challenges we will encounter on a day-to-day basis.  What I love the most, as an investigator, is that my work is valued. The Office of Public Defender utilizes their interns to limit the need of outside paid investigators. The job entails taking witness statements, writing legal documents like subpoenas, and being ready for any other request by an attorney.

    After going through a long week of training, I am now working hand in hand with attorneys on their cases. The subpoenas that I write are used to acquire evidentiary documents or for an individuals to appear in court. The ability to speak Spanish extends the range of cases and attorneys I work with. I’m allowed to interview clients and witnesses in Spanish to get their statements.  I also aid in conversations between clients and attorneys by interpret Spanish to English and vice versa. Lastly, I strategically analyze jail calls, email, text messages, 911 calls, and surveillance videos, like police interrogation, for evidence that may self-incriminate, or support our clients. 

    With two weeks and counting, I have not had a dull day at the office. Working with the public defenders keeps me fascinated and I get the privilege to influence people’s lives on a daily basis. So far, this has been a fruitful experience. I’m able to use the skills and knowledge I've acquired thus far in my college and personal experiences to excel. What else would you say is rewarding? Not only am I gaining new skills on top of what I already knew, I am also strengthening my previous skills.