Ella, a member of our MyLLife Scholars 2023 Cohort, shared her Summer internship experience with us:
My name is Ella Marsh and I am from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am a rising senior at George Washington University studying Political Science and Sociology. When I first went off to college, I thought I wanted to work on the hill but after an internship and a lot of reflection, I realized I was interested in law but not in the way I originally thought. Once I realized I wanted to go to law school, it became clear that I needed to get some experience in the field.
I decided to apply to work at the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office for the summer. Because Public Defender’s Offices around the country are so stretched for resources, I knew it was unlikely that I could secure a job that paid me, which is when I sought out MyLLife. I was lucky enough to receive funding and have been so lucky to work at such an amazing office all summer. Most of the week, I get to help my attorney reach out to clients, write memos, and keep notes on his cases. Every week I get to go to court to watch the attorney that I am paired with fight for people’s freedom. I feel so lucky to be able to contribute to such meaningful work. Public defenders are the cornerstone of a fair and equitable criminal justice system. Without public defenders, massive inequities in outcomes would exist between the rich and the poor under the law. With this internship under my belt, I am excited to take on the challenge of law school with some practical experience.
Thank you, Ella, for sharing your experience!
