Throughout this summer, I completed an internship at the Law Firm of Higbee and Associates, where I participated in their Restorative Justice Advocacy program. This program allowed me to interact with case managers and court clerks who are working on cases for people previously convicted of felonies and misdemeanors, and help them reintegrate into society through the means of expungement and record sealing. I have learned just how important this work is, as the RecordGone team at the Law Firm of Higbee and Associates works towards giving people a second chance at life. This experience has allowed me to further develop my professional skills, learn legal jargon, and learn more about our legal system’s inner workings which has solidified my passion for learning more about the criminal justice system. This experience was particularly special to me, as I was able to see the impact of my actions in a real-world setting, and this was the first time I was able to use my education to drive my passion to help others in a way I have never done before.
I am actively working towards becoming a Forensic Psychologist and I wholeheartedly believe this internship has become an important stepping stone in this process. I am currently majoring in Psychology and minoring in Anthropology, and I believe this internship aligns with my major because, during the Attorney Round Table meeting, we got to ask attorneys questions about their career paths and I found that some of them completed their undergraduate programs as Psychology majors as well. My ultimate goal is to work with people convicted of crimes who are at risk of becoming re-offenders. In the future, I aim to apply my expertise and knowledge of the criminal justice and legal systems to help facilitate societal change and help end the stigma surrounding the cycle of crime, and provide humans with the help they need and deserve. This internship has been my first exposure to doing just that.
After completing this internship, I would consider a career here at the Law Firm of Higbee and Associates if it were my goal to become an attorney or work in the legal field in general. The firm has an amalgamation of qualified legal assistants, intake specialists, and attorneys who care about their jobs and provide professional services to their clients. Every day I came into the office, I was greeted warmly and knew that the people there were passionate about their work, creating a positive environment that I would be happy to join.
The case managers and HR managers here at the Law Firm of Higbee and Associates take every measure to teach you everything you need to know before completing the tasks assigned to you. My case manager was patient and thorough when explaining to me how to read court documents and glean the necessary information to input into their system. She also set me up for success when it came time for me to call the courts to inquire about case details. Every skill needed to succeed here is taught to you almost immediately, so no previous educational requirements are needed. A piece of advice I would give is to always conduct yourself in a professional manner, be open to feedback, and ask questions.
This is the office where I worked! I loved the positive art and welcoming environment.
Hi Sydni! As someone who is also interested in forensic psychology and takes a massive interest in the field, this internship seems like a dream, and I am so happy that you were able to partake in it. Something that stood out to me during your experience was that you were able to meet other professionals who majored in psychology during their undergraduate studies. I feel as if, as psychology majors, we are often bombarded with being told that there isn't much that we can do with our majors, but that's completely untrue. The field of psychology is extremely wide and can take you far places. I'm so happy you had such a positive and warm experience, and I wish you the best in your future endeavors!