City Of Newark Welcomes 43 Students to Fifth Annual Comprehensive Summer Law Internship Program
Mayor Cory A. Booker and Corporation Counsel Anna Pereira announced that the City of Newark’s Law Department welcomed 43 high school, college, and law school students into the Fifth Annual Comprehensive Summer Law Internship Program during a ceremony on Monday, July 11, in the Municipal Council Chamber. Law Department Chief of Staff Angela G. Foster served as the event’s mistress of ceremonies. First Corporation Counsel Clyde Otis and Council Member-at-Large Carlos M. Gonzalez delivered remarks.
“This year we are again providing a class of young scholars and future lawyers with an opportunity to learn about their future profession and to experience the realities of the professional and legal workplace. They will see first hand the efforts our administration is making to transform Newark, and they will become a part of the process. I hope this experience will encourage them to continue to make change in their lives and ours, by pursuing careers in public service,” Mayor Booker said in a statement.
Students participating in the six-week Fifth Annual Comprehensive Summer Internship Program will perform paralegal functions in the department by assisting attorneys, including municipal prosecutors, with their duties, pre-trial conferences and actual trials. Interns will also attend seminars on courtroom procedure, gang awareness, financial preparedness, resume writing, and job interview skills. The interns consist of 25 law school students, eight college students, and 10 high school students. Last year’s internship program involved 30 students.
Council Member Gonzalez told the attendees, “This is a great opportunity for you. This program did not exist when I was a kid, so take advantage of this and learn as much as you can.”
Corporation Counsel Pereira said in a statement, “Newark is on the rise. There is a new energy and vibrancy here. You are part of the future of Newark, because you now have a connection. You will see what we do on a daily basis and how it impacts the life of every person in the City. You will get to see from the inside what works and what doesn’t. And in entering these internships, you are light-years ahead of me when I was your age, because at that time, we did not have such opportunities.”
“We want to expose our students to all that municipal legal practice has to offer. Our students will witness, first-hand, what is involved in the practice of law. Moreover, they will be mentored and guided by our staff, as well as meet various practitioners and judges in the surrounding area. Given these benefits, they will return to their institutions better prepared to make informed decisions about their futures,” said Ms. Foster.
The interns, some of whom started working in June, will spend their days researching cases, preparing briefs, drafting pleadings and even working on plea agreements with defendants in the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office. In addition to their daily activities, some of the special events the interns will participate in are: a presentation by Provident Bank on Financial Preparedness; a lecture on gang awareness and prevention, whose speakers will include Deputy Police Director Niles R. Wilson, Earl “Street Doctor” Best, and Detectives from the Newark Police Department Criminal Intelligence Unit; a panel discussion with local attorneys and judges; a presentation and discussion on private sector legal issues, law firm practice and a tour of the Essex County Historic Courthouse presented by partnering law firm Saiber, LLC, and presentations on college admissions process.
Emea Cherry, an East Side High sophomore, plans a career in criminal law, and enjoyed the orientation. “They told us the things we need to do. I’m very disciplined, so I like the discipline. I hope to learn things about the law that I never knew,” she said.
Bijan Braham, who just graduated from American History High School, and is headed for Kean University, said, “This is an interesting look at the world of the law. I hope to get a better understanding of the criminal justice system and how lawyers prosecute and defend cases.” While he plans to major in graphic design, he is considering a career in law.
The program is organized by the City of Newark’s Law Department with support from NJ LEEP, Inc.; Saiber, LLC.; The Wight Foundation, Inc.; and Newark Youth One-Stop.
The City of Newark’s Law Department is the largest such municipal department in the State of New Jersey. It has 45 in-house attorneys and 30 support staff, and works with 17 outside law firms who handle more complex or specialized matters on behalf of the City. The primary responsibilities of the Law Department are to resolve litigations, defend and represent the City in court, revise and create City ordinances, and to ensure that the municipal government follows federal and state laws in conducting its operations, including contracting, personnel, and labor issues.
Anyone with questions about any City of Newark program or policy should contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.
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