A Summer Well Spent: My Internship with a United States Attorney’s Office

By: Keith Kronenberg

This summer I had the honor of interning with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division. Due to the fact that I would be working with sensitive and confidential information, I underwent an extensive background check conducted by the federal government. I was issued a Department of Justice identification badge on my first day. Court Security Officers employed by the United States Marshals Service greeted me upon my entrance to the courthouse, where the office was located.

Both criminal and civil Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) worked on the same floor of the office. This allowed me to alternate between criminal and civil assignments. On the criminal side, I drafted prosecution memorandums and indictments, conducted research on Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues, and examined the fraudulent use of PPP loans. I also attended sentencing hearings through Zoom. On the civil side, I worked on cases involving qualified immunity, qui tam actions, and habeas corpus petitions. The AUSAs generously provided meaningful assistance for each assignment, which I greatly appreciated.

The phrase “jack of all trades” is often followed by “master of none.” AUSAs are the exception, however. Their work requires them to be experts in diverse areas of law. They inspired me to follow their example throughout the internship by requesting assignments that would expose me to new areas of law. My summer fellowship as a rising third year student provided me with invaluable insight into the operations of the office and how it protects the interests of the United States.

I am immensely grateful for the funding provided by the Douglas W. & Grace D. Dimitroff Summer Fellowship, which made the summer internship possible. I hope to someday pay this forward by providing a similar fellowship to students at University at Buffalo School of Law.

Name: Keith Kronenberg, ’21

Name of Fellowship: Douglas W. & Grace D. Dimitroff Summer Fellowship Award

Placement: United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida

Location: Fort Myers, Florida

One important lesson I have learned from this fellowship: “View each new assignment as an opportunity to expand your knowledge base and become a more effective advocate.”