Kaitlynn Adams

Describe the steps you took to obtain your internship.
   During my first year at Florida State University, I grew a passion for Domestic Violence Awareness through educational and philanthropic events held by my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, who raises money for Tallahassee Refugee House. When I discovered that my childhood Sunday School Teacher specializes in Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Litigation, I immediately reached out in hopes for guidance on how to be successful in this type of law. All it took was one phone call and I was connected to a summer internship opportunity at the Office of the State Attorney 15th Judicial Circuit of Palm Beach County. My previous Sunday School Teacher even provided a recommendation, which helped boost my application and ultimately land my internship.

How far in advance did you prepare and begin applying for your internship?

 I began planning for my internship almost six months in advance. The initial phone call I made, which brought me the opportunity, was in January and my first official day in the office was at the end of May. 

If you used any Career Center services, resources, or events to obtain your part-time job, what were they?

 One of the most helpful resources at the Career Center for my application process was the resume appointments. I was able to submit my original resume and receive feedback from an advisor in my major and make the changes needed to strengthen my experiences. This made the final resume that I submitted for my internship application look and sound professional. I stuck out from other applicants and was rewarded with the position.

Describe some of your responsibilities or duties during your experiential learning opportunity.
   I am responsible for opening, filing, and closing misdemeanor warrants and capiases related to domestic violence offenses. Most recently, I began working with the victim advocates contacting victims via phone call, email, or text about upcoming hearings or court outcomes.

What is a typical day like "on the job?"
   Every day, I check in with the filing attorney to see if any warrants or capiases were filed or not filed. Based on the attorney's judgment, I either keep the case open and officially file it through office software, or close it. Then, I check the mailroom for new warrants and capiases sent from one of the police stations in Palm Beach County. If there are new cases to open, I do so. Then, once the filing is done I go to the victim advocates and make outcome or reminder calls about cases. 

What are some major takeaways from your experience? How will these help prepare you for the next step after graduation?
   One of the biggest things I've learned in my time at the State Attorney’s Office is that there are no small positions in law. While I expected to be ignored or brushed aside as "just an intern" by other staff members - and especially attorneys - they are so appreciative of my help and have truly taken me under their wing. While I only file cases and call victims, if I didn't do my job the attorneys and judges couldn't do theirs in the courtroom, so every little thing I do is bringing victims one step closer to justice. 

Did this experience help clarify your career path? If yes, how so?
   Observing office interactions in my position at the State Attorney’s Office has inspired me to envision what I want my law career to look like. After seeing firsthand what an attorney’s workday consists of, I can truly imagine myself excelling in this field. While I still have not achieved my final goal of attending one deposition by the sixth week of my internship, I still have two weeks to make it happen. I’m looking forward to continuing my computer and advocacy work and cannot wait to learn more.