Name: Carina Roberts
Class Year: 2028
Major: Political Science

Internship Organization: Committee for Public Counsel Services
Internship Title: Racial Justice Intern
Location: Springfield, MA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing! 

At my internship my main role is to conduct a research project on how to improve Bias Training in the Children and Family Law Division of the Public Defender’s Office. For that project, I examined the training that is currently used by the division, identifying strengths and weaknesses of the training components. I then researched best practices for Bias trainings and suggested additions and modifications to the trainings. I also did research to support a project on judicial bias in Massachusetts. I specifically researched best practices for encouraging attorneys to report judicial bias and how other groups document judicial bias reports. I am also participating in a mock Temporary Custody Hearing along with my fellow interns. I will be acting as the attorney for one of the children in the mock case conducting direct and cross examination. I have also been shadowing attorneys in court as well.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied to this internship because I have a passion for social justice and am pursuing a career in law. I have a strong interest in family that I found out through my externship in Family Court in Brooklyn, NY. I have always been passionate about racial justice as well. This internship seemed like the best opportunity for me to continue learning about family law and how a career in racial justice fits into that profession. I had been looking for an internship in a public defenders office as I am leaning towards a future career in public defense.

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

I am gaining skills in how to advocate for myself and others when there is injustice in the workplace. While it is important to report things to HR it is also good to have a support system who can rationally discuss with you the next steps to take. I am also gaining skills in communication and how to communicate disagreement with a superior without risking being called rude or unwilling to learn. I am learning about this fine line of self-advocacy. I am also enhancing my legal research skills by finding different resources for my research and not taking everything that the authors say as point blank.

Was this internship what you expected it to be? 

This internship was way more than what I expected it to be, mainly because of the kindness and support from my supervisor and the other attorneys in the office. They have all been truly welcoming and offer any opportunity for me to learn something. My supervisor has been especially helpful as we have many discussions about legal concepts, bias in public defense, and law school in general. I also did not expect to learn so much about different aspects of public defense. I am doing a research project specific to CAFL about how to enhance bias training. I am also doing a research project on how to encourage attorneys in Massachusetts to report judicial bias. On the other hand, I participated in a mock temporary custody hearing where I was a child’s attorney. I have also taken opportunities to observe CAFL defense attorneys in action in court, talking with clients, and in conference with one another. I am engaging in multiple different types of learning which has created a holistic internship experience.