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Andrea Augustinas |
Working at CARPLS has been an educational experience that I wish I'd had earlier in my law school career. In my previous jobs I've done a lot of legal research and writing, but in my current internship I'm able to work with clients and actually see how the laws impact people in the real world.
I entered law school two years ago hoping to pursue public interest law, and this job has further cemented that ambition. There is just so much work to be done for so many who are suffering. Meeting others who work in this field, who dedicate their precious time, energy, and intellectual resources to increasing people's access to justice, is inspiring.
The staff at CARPLS is doing tremendous work. The paralegals are knowledgeable and helpful to clients and colleagues alike. My co-interns and our volunteer staff are kind and intentional about the work they are doing. And most importantly, each of my supervisors strives to help me provide the best advice that I can, making sure I know not only what to say, but what it means and why I'm saying it. Everyone here seems to always have our collective aim of helping others in mind.
It's clear to me how much everyone in the legal profession would benefit from a job like this. Serving as what might be someone's sole source of legal advice and assistance is an enormous responsibility. The stakes are high because there is so much your clients stand to lose. While not everyone can have a legal victory, in the moments when I've helped someone formulate a solution, or even when I've managed to give bad news enveloped in genuine compassion, I feel like I'm doing the work I came here to do.
CARPLS is grateful to PILI and The Chicago Bar Foundation for sponsoring Andrea's work this summer at CARPLS.
