I remember the orientation session for my internship like it was yesterday. Up to that point, I had very little idea what my work at the DA's office might entail, and while the orientation itself was incredibly thorough, nothing could have prepared me for all the wonderful experiences the internship provided.
Perhaps among the most significant benefits I gained from this internship was the opportunity to work in a quintessential professional setting. The process has been long and arduous, but I feel confident now, at the end of this process, in my ability to operate in a professional setting. My future career will likely feature many settings similar to the DA's office, and having the opportunity to experience it will definitely allow me to approach future opportunities with comfort and confidence in my ability to navigate the space.
The setting of my internship was a legal setting; while I am currently not a law student (political science), I came to, in many ways, also view the setting as a policy-making institution and found a lot of parallel between the work of the office and what gets studied in class. The setting is, at the same time, one where there is no expected pre-requisite knowledge. In fact, it was made very clear to us that the goal of the internship was to be a learning experience and to prepare those students who saw themselves as one day being prosecutors. With this in mind this internship is one where the only requirement needed is a willingness to step out of your comfort zone.
One major revelation I came across was a real inclination I see in the future to pursue a career like the one I got to experience through my internship. My goals are to attend law school and practice law, but I recognize that working at the DA's office would be a fantastic opportunity to "cut my teeth." With that in mind, I also see a lot of growth ahead if I ever wish to carve out a path for myself in this career. There are some personality hurdles I may have to overcome as a generally timid individual. At the same time, there is also a lot to learn. The individuals who serve in the DA's office are incredible professionals and they bring a wide breadth of experience and knowledge in service of the community.
As such, to provide some small pieces of advice to those who would be incoming participants in this internship program, I would advise them to really view this experience as a learning experience. Try to absorb as much as you can, be a fly on the wall, and try your very best to rise to the level of professionalism the attorneys at the DA's office espouse. The experience will be what you make of it, so take full advantage of the amazing opportunity and the amazing attorneys there.