Week 9

This was a short week because I got a cold and had to take my LSAT on Saturday so I didn't want to chance being sick on test day. However, with what time I did have, I was able to get a lot accomplished. I began doing what I was doing for the other lawyer (catching her up, etc), for yet another lawyer. We'll name this person M. I've been trying to get all of her client contact information caught up and it has been an uphill battle. She doesn't have a lot of her contact information in the computer, so it's a matter of going in the physical files and pulling the information from there. It has been fun though talking to M's clients because she does a really good job keeping in touch with the ones that really care. Even though she may not have the best organizational skills, she does a great job with her clients. That is something to be admired.

I had another interesting moment with another client. He is from Louisiana and I once lived there so we have that in common. I've kept close tabs on this case so I know what has been going on. He thought he was going to be arrested for a battery charge, when he reality he was the one who got battered. He came up to me before we went to court for his child that day and he asked me about his battery trial that was coming up. He was very nervous, but I let him know that he was the one who got jumped and there was nothing to worry about. I could see that he calmed down quite a bit and he gave me a thanks. This was really cool because just by keeping up with his current events I was able to break things down for him and calm his nerves. If I ever become a lawyer that's one thing I will work on, trying to calm the nerves of my clients. Not only does it help them, but I could see how it could help me too.

Week 8

As mentioned in my previous blog I have been doing a lot of office work. I have found one thing really interesting about this whole experience. As I have probably stated before I have noticed that some people who work here, view their clients as mere numbers and not as people. I don't think it's a bad thing because it's hard to differentiate and number to a person. I have been going through removing these files and I began to look at some of them. I realized that each one of these files I am moving or closing, is a step in someones life. Not to get to sentimental, but I have been trying to imagine each child that might have grown up, or been adopted and think of the all the opportunities they have now. If I ever do work like this, I will try to keep this attitude of focusing in on each file as a person and not just a number. I can see how people can get stuck in the system with a file just being stuck in someone else file cabinet.

One other interesting thing this week was when we went to court to discuss a client with the judge. This client (Ms J) has been working so hard to get her children back. While meeting with the judge we were all trying to think of the best way to transition the child back with the mother. I recommend that she could watch the baby while the aunt, who has custody, goes to work so she doesn't have to find daycare. Everyone was in agrement and I felt pretty offical once I got the head nod from the judge. It's the little things that get me pumped during this internship because there are not very many moments like this were I feel like I make a direct impact. Hopefully this was the one suggestion that Ms J and everyone else was looking for to help make a transition home for the child.

Week 7

I am really starting to feel a draw here. The best way to describe it is to focus on my day off on Wednesday. Weird to focus on the day off, but you'll understand. I had a arrangements I had made previously and would not be able to go to my internship and I felt pulled away because of it. Usually when someone gets a day off from anything, they would be excited to not go in, not me. I had to miss court for some of my clients and I was upset because they are some that I really wanted to see. That's how I know I am really enjoying my time here at DAC. The coolest part about all of it was the fact that when I called one of my clients, she asked me where I was and that she missed seeing me there. When I first started here I thought I would be just another intern, or just another face to these clients, but I actually hold some weight with some of them. Just shows me what the power of a phone call can do.

Friday however was a horse of a different color. As mentioned before I have been working with another lawyer in the office which has been a different look at how people do the same things. This lawyer for example is a little computer-challenged and I have taken it upon myself to get her caught up. There is a program they use to keep track of how many clients they have and also used to assign them new clients. It is there job to open and close them, but this person had not done any in awhile. She had 147 clients open and when I finished with her she had 67. I have also been organizing her e-mail so she can keep track of each client a little better. Not to mention out of those 147, she had all of the files still. So, by doing one job I have created a monster and keep myself very busy. As a matter of fact I don't go to court with William as much because I am doing so much work in the office. It feels good to help get some of these people on track. Will they probably continue in their old ways, probably. But, I know I did my part to help them now.