I learned a lot about the day-to-day parts of being a lawyer, rather than just what is shown on television. To me, that was the most important part. Seeing what goes into high quality representation was interesting. Doing all of the paperwork and focusing on all of the details to be sure that your client is represented with the utmost quality possible is more than just arguing in court and winning. That involves a lot of preparation. I enjoyed actually seeing how courts run and the different departments interact with each other on a daily basis. The atmosphere was very professional while also being very friendly and supportive. There was a wide variety of different people and personalities and, I believe, that that lends itself to being able to more effectively represent the wide variety of clients that need the services of the Public Defender.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have stayed on and just started work as a lawyer, but, you know...law school.
Advice
If you are considering law school or paralegal studies, regardless of the type of law you are considering, seeing the justice system from this perspective is invaluable.
