USD Law Student Gains Valuable Experience in Judicial Internship at U.S. District Court
Under the guidance of one of Judge Schreier’s clerks, Whitney took on a challenging civil writing project.
Her responsibilities included conducting extensive multi-jurisdictional research, crafting detailed outlines and producing multiple drafts which were ultimately submitted to the official court docket.
Collaborating with fellow interns, Whitney also played a crucial role in verifying citations within the clerks’ written work and actively participated in various federal court hearings.
This immersive experience not only honed her legal research and writing skills but also provided her with invaluable insights into the judicial process.
Reflecting on her summer in the U. S. District Court, here is what Whitney had to say.
What did you most enjoy about your summer internship?
I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the other interns, clerks and judges. We had the pleasure of meeting in Judge Schreier’s chambers every morning, which allowed us to learn more about each other and about the legal field. I also really loved stepping behind the scenes of the judiciary and seeing how decisions are made from behind the bench.
Are there any skills or tips you learned that will help for the remainder of your law school career?
The internship bolstered my writing skills extensively. I was lucky enough to have feedback from my supervisor and Judge Schreier, which was beneficial. My supervisor was excellent in helping me improve in small ways with each draft. He taught me how to strengthen my wording and utilize several cases to support the argument. Thanks to his guidance, I now have more confidence in my writing due to the number of drafts I was able to work through this summer. I know these skills will stick with me, and I hope to continue the progress during the school year and in my internship next summer.
Was there a course or professor that helped you best prepare for this internship?
In terms of course work, the core first-year law classes helped me build solid groundwork for the cases I worked with in my time at the federal courthouse. There were times where I needed to expand on what I have learned through research and asking questions, but the benefit of a summer internship is that you continue to learn and build on the coursework with real life experience. I was lucky enough to gain this experience in various areas of the law and through a judge’s eyes.
How did you get connected to this internship?
I first learned about this internship through a connection I have within the South Dakota Bar. This taught me the importance of networking and maintaining connections that are made throughout law school.
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