summer-fellow

The Intern

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By: Alexandra “The Intern” Rosenlund Class of 2025

Over the summer of 2023, The Erie County District Attorney’s Office found a last-minute placement for me in their summer internship program. On day one, it became apparent that someone thought that I was a 3L student, and not a 1L. Whether this was the reason I was placed in four different bureaus remains to be seen, however, I would not have had it either way. Bureau chiefs: Gary Ertel with Special Investigations, Rachel Newton with ERPO/Raise the Age and Grand Jury, Paul Williams with Appeals, Paul Glascott with Vehicular Crimes, and Danielle D’Abate also with ERPO/Raise the Age; welcomed me regardless and made me feel like a true part of the team.   Over fourteen weeks, they gave me the opportunity to practice my legal writing by having me draft memos and appellate briefs. They also provided allowed me to observe court proceedings, proffers, and investigative meetings which taught me what life as a government prosecutor really is like.

The prosecutors at the Erie County District Attorney’s Office showed an immense amount of fortitude and gratitude. They are present every day to n that justice is realized for both victims and perpetrators. I am lucky for receiving the opportunity to learn from them.

Being a government position, the internship is generally unpaid, and as a graduate student with a limited amount of time to work, I would not have had this opportunity without the support of the University at Buffalo School of Law Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program and their donors, Francis and Cindy Letro. The experiences I had over the summer were priceless and have helped me realize my passion for practicing law in the public interest area.

Name: Alexandra Rosenlund ’25

Fellowship: Buffalo School of Law Public Interest Fellowship

Placement: Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Location: Buffalo, NY

One important lesson I have learned from this fellowship: “The interests of a government prosecutor are not merely to put away criminals. Their interests include what kind of justice is deserved for both victims AND perpetrators. Their interests include treating all parties as human beings with dignity. Their interests include walking the line of intersectionality between victims and perpetrators with the community as a whole in mind. And they harbor these interests even when both parties might be hostile to them, in the name of justice.”