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By: Chloe Charles ‘25
This summer, I had the privilege of interning at the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office because of the generous fellowship given by Francis and Cindy Letro! I am very grateful to have been awarded their fellowship and grateful to the University at Buffalo School of Law Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program, for all of the work the organization puts in to assist students entering into public interest placements.
My time with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office left me with more legal experience than I imagined I could gain. All the attorneys went above and beyond to ensure I and the two other legal interns were busy with various projects. I was able to not only attend Watertown City Court and Jefferson County Court every day, but I was also able to do research on many legal topics I had never heard of, respond to motions, and even read over appellate briefs. Immersing yourself in the practice of law is a task I feel a student is never fully prepared for until they jump right in and see if they can swim.
My favorite part of the internship was being issued a practice order to represent the DA’s office at Watertown City Court. I was able to run the courtroom calendar multiple times during my summer internship. The first time I was very nervous, as I had never spoken on the record in front of a judge. Thankfully, I was able to prepare the calendar with the help of the assistant district attorneys. During prep, we created offers and brainstormed scenarios to help me navigate the unpredictability that can occur in court. I admit, it was challenging to learn when to interject, what language to use, and how to speak with defendants and their counsel. However, jumping right in helped me to develop a rhythm in the courtroom and build my confidence. The next time, I felt more comfortable in the courtroom. I hope with time I will be able to perfect my courtroom skills so I will be ready to enter a career in prosecution.
Although my internship was interesting and fun at times, I also witnessed the negative side of being a prosecutor. Having to juggle multiple cases, and working with victims can wear an attorney down. While prosecuting a case, a victim may have to relive the worst day of their life; an attorney may lack the evidence to prosecute a case and must tell a victim they cannot bring criminal charges; or the attorney may spend hours preparing for a trial that may not even run because of circumstances out of their control. All the attorneys handle their job with grace, respect, and a little bit of humor. Learning how to balance the ups and downs of working as a prosecutor was one of the most valuable skills I gained this summer.
Jumping right in can seem scary but it can sometimes be the best way to learn. I definitely jumped right in this summer and learned a lot. Thank you again to Francis and Cindy Letro for their fellowship and for their commitment to public interest, and to the Jefferson County DA’s Office for allowing me to intern with them.
Name: Chloe Charles ’25
Fellowship: UB School of Law Public Interest Summer Fellowship – Funded by Francis M. Letro ’79 & Cindy Abbott Letro
Placement: Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office
Location: Watertown, New York
One important lesson I have learned from this fellowship: “Do not be afraid to jump in the water and see if you can swim.”
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