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By: Kaitlin Hughes ’25
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern for the Honorable John L. Sinatra, Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Thank you to the University at Buffalo School of Law Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program for making this judicial internship possible.
During the summer, my fellow interns and I observed numerous proceedings throughout the courthouse and learned the ins and outs of the litigation system. I particularly enjoyed observing proceedings in Judge Sinatra’s courtroom because he often explained the background of the case before him, its current posture, and why he ruled certain ways. This gave me a window into the operations of the court system and the Judge’s decision-making processes.
In addition, this observational experience prompted me to begin to think about ways to effectively advocate for a client in front of a judge. I witnessed many different styles of oral advocacy. Some attorneys remained even-keeled and soft spoken, while others expressed their points with passion and animation. As an observer, some techniques appeared to work better than others, but it depended on the attorney’s personality, the posture of the case, and the judge presiding over the case. Before this summer internship, I did not fully understand the importance of this aspect of litigating. Throughout my 1L year, I worked to learn the relevant cases and blackletter law, and I studied to refine my legal writing. Moving forward, I will begin to explore my own style of oral advocacy so that I can represent future clients to the best of my ability.
My fellow interns and I also worked on a Social Security appeal decision and helped with various research issues before the court. This was an opportunity for me to put my 1L research and writing skills to the test and present my legal findings in a workplace setting. While I learned the basics of legal research and writing during 1L, I had not previously experienced the pressure of working on real cases with real lives at stake. As a result, I tried to work even more diligently on my assignments so as not to miss any important details, and I am grateful for the feedback from the Judge and his clerks. I will always cherish this opportunity to contribute to the work product of the Judge’s chambers and learn from the important issues before the bench.
Lastly, I also had the chance to observe speakers during lunchtime on Wednesdays over the course of the summer. I listened to distinguished members of the Buffalo community, from in-house counsel to judges to criminal defense attorneys. They each shared their insight into their own career paths and how they have learned from their experiences. Not only was this a great networking opportunity, but it helped me to think about my own career through a more analytical lens and showed me sides of the legal industry I have never explored.
Thank you to the University at Buffalo School of Law for preparing me for this internship and helping me secure the position. Additionally, thank you to Kristin Graham Koehler ‘94 and David Koehler ‘94, whose generous donation allowed me to pursue this opportunity. Lastly, thank you to Judge Sinatra, Kirstie Henry, Kristen Flick, Christine Gibbons, Mary Moran, Pearce Embrey, and Bonnie Weber for welcoming me into the Judge’s chambers this summer and taking the time to teach and mentor me.
Name: Kaitlin Hughes ’25
Fellowship: Kristin Graham Koehler ‘94 and David Koehler ‘94 Judicial Fellowship
Placement: The Hon. John L. Sinatra, Jr., United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Location: Buffalo, NY
One important lesson I have learned from this fellowship: “The Constitution, statutes, and case law are the bedrock of the legal system, but they can only get you so far. It takes passion and creative lawyering to make an effective litigator who can advocate successfully for her clients.”
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