Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Farewell Address from Doneshia Barnes


Good Morning,

I am Doneshia Barnes. In May, I graduated, with honors, from D. M. Therrell School of Law, Government, & Public Policy ranked 4th of my senior class. I am a Deans Scholarship recipient for Alabama State University, which I will attend this fall. First things first, on behalf of the 2013 interns,  we would like to extend our profound thanks to the mentors, supervisors, hosts, and sponsors who believed in us and supported us. We are forever grateful.

This year, I was excited about interning with the Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program, but I was saddened when I came to the realization that this will be my final time being able to intern. I am a third year intern and I have had 3 wonderful, but different experiences during the past 3 summers that have impacted my life. I have interned at the DeKalb County Solicitor General’s Office, DeKalb County Superior Court with Judge Courtney Lynn Johnson, and this summer I am proud to be the Department of Labor Solicitors Office first Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internships Program intern.

I have stated that my internships have all been completely different and that has always had the biggest effect on me. I thrive on new experiences and every intern host was that in itself. My first summer, I was a very timid young lady going into a busy work environment. I was accustomed to only small environments because I am in a small school at Therrell. I came in already shy, but I wanted to try this new thing. I had applied, interviewed, and made it through 4 orientations. Nothing was going to stop me from trying to experience this opportunity. I interned at the DeKalb County Solicitor General’s Office in the Special Victims Unit. In that particular office, I learned a lot about how to close cases, call victims for surveys and actually speak to them, dress professionally when going into court rooms, and the two things that I know for sure that every intern has to learn how to do: print and copy.

Last summer, I interned at the DeKalb County Superior Court with Judge Courtney Lynn Johnson. I found myself working quickly and efficiently and becoming proficient in memorizing case names and numbers. I was taught how to behave in court, the different court room procedures, different pleadings, and gained more mentors than I could ever imagine. I thoroughly enjoyed that experience, but I knew that I still had some growth.

This summer, my motto is: Aspire to succeed and you will do so, but always do it with a gracious heart and a smile. I was ready for this summer to begin. Being an intern with the Department of Labor Solicitor’s Office has been amazing. I always say that you should leave an impact on everyone that you meet and vice versa. I feel as if I did so. I have enjoyed working in a positive and stimulating environment with wonderful people. I even became a receptionist by my second week. I am treated as an equal. Although I am young and I have made many mistakes, they encouraged me to try again and keep going. I have tons of fun working with my mentors and peers.

Right now, I honestly cannot believe that I am standing in front of this group of wonderful people speaking. Mr. Malone tends to joke or reference my timid personality 3 summers ago and how if anyone even uttered my name, I would cower, but now look at me. The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program helps you step out of your comfort zone and be who you truly are. The coordinators stress the fact that the three main goals of this internship are to: 1) Gain mentors. 2). Retain a better understanding of the law and how it works. 3) Have a valuable work experience. We have had 4 orientations and 6 weekly meetings where everyone has to speak at least once and every time we have to speak, everyone has to stand up and introduce ourselves thoroughly and trust me that help’s tremendously. We have also had several guest speakers from the Atlanta legal community who have motivated and inspired us. We don’t mock each other’s mistakes and we encourage growth, and that is what this whole program is about to me. We aspire to succeed and will not allow anything to hold us back.

A few days ago, I read in a letter from a former intern, Andres Marcuse Gonzalez that we should not take this opportunity for granted. My fellow interns, this opportunity was not handed to us because we are mediocre. You put in the time and energy to make it to where you are now, and complacency was not an option. It was our desire and drive to do more that motivated us to apply for this internship and WE MADE IT! This internship is what you make it, and you have made it into the best experience that you could possibly have because you have made it to the very end. Every intern host is different and you cannot expect to have the same experience as another intern, but you want to show others your capability.

I would like to thank the founders of this program for turning an idea into the reality that it is now. You went above and beyond to make this program into what it is today. Thank you, sponsors and contributors for contributing financially and physically to the success of this internship. Thank you intern hosts, supervisors, and mentors for putting up with us for 6 weeks. We have all made mistakes and you have been there for us with encouraging words to give us the confidence needed to do the job again. Lastly, thank you Ms. Natasha Perdew-Silas, Mrs. Nekia Hackworth-Jones, Ms. Mariana Pannell, and Mr. Wade Malone for your encouragement, motivation, and dedication to this program. You don’t allow us to fail or quit. Without you, we might not have made it to the finish line.

This internship is a jewel in the crown of the Atlanta Bar.

This internship will thrive for many years because of legacy of its founders, the generosity of the Atlanta legal community, and US, the interns- PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE that will serve as Ambassadors who spread the word about how this program changed our lives. Thank you.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Enrichment Due June 26


2013 Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program

 

Enrichment Questions:  (Due June 26, 2013)


1.       Assume you are being interviewed this coming Fall (2013) for a position with a law firm.  Please prepare your response to the following questions:  "Please tell me about yourself."  You should write 5-6 sentences answering this question.  Please also memorize/know your answer and be prepared to give it at our meeting on June 26, 2013.  (So please practice, practice, practice).

 
2.       Assume in the same interview as No. 1, you are also asked the following question:  "Why should we hire you over all of the other candidates?"  You should write 5-6 sentences answering this question.  Please also memorize/know your answer and be prepared to give it at our meeting on June 26, 2013.  (So please practice, practice, practice)
 

3.       What qualities and concrete steps must someone have or take to become an attorney?  Please provide details from the time someone is in high school, through college, law school, and taking the Bar exam until he or she is licensed.  (We are not looking for a book here.)

You are required to do your work on your own.  At the bottom of each of your assignments during the 2013 Summer Law Internship Program, please write the following:

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS WORK AND DID THE WORK BY MYSELF. 

 
Signed:                                                                                                   Date:                                                  

 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Terrence L. Croft Essay Assignment - Due July 1, 2013

The Annual Intern Program Essay Contest is named in honor of Terrence Lee Croft,  one of the founders of the Intern Program.  Terrence was the President of the Atlanta Bar Association in 1993, the year of the Intern Program’s founding. Through the years, Terrence has been an enduring and a dedicated supporter of the Intern Program, always challenging the Intern Program to do more. Naming the Essay Contest after Terrence is but  a small way to honor what Terrence  has meant and will always mean to the Intern Program.


Each year SLIP interns are required to submit an essay of at least 700 words typed and double-spaced.  This year's Terrence L. Croft Essay topic is the United States Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Alvarez decided on June 28, 2012.  The Alvarez case addressed the constitutionality of the Stolen Valor Act.  Your essay should cover the Supreme Court's decision (or holding) and reasoning in the case, along with the reasoning of the concurring and dissenting opinions.  It would also be interesting to compare the holdings of the Court in the Alvarez case with the earlier Supreme Court case of Morse v. Frederick.

You must complete the essay on your own.  Please feel free to listen to the oral argument in the case and or read the oral argument transcript.  This will help you to understand the arguments and opinions.  You should check your essay carefully to be sure that it does not contact typos or other errors.  Spellcheck and Grammar check are very helpful.  Pay attention to the red lines when the word processor shows them to you.

At the bottom of your essay, please write the following:

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE  IN COMPLETING THIS ESSAY AND DID THE ESSAY BY MYSELF.  THIS ESSAY IS ______ WORDS.

Resume Writing


For our discussion on resume writing, you will find very useful information here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/re2z4mmxhs628va/Resume%20Preparation%20Info.pdf?m

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Dress for Success Video and Article Links

Great first meeting today!  It is going to be a great summer.  Below you will find a link to a video that you should watch prior to the next meeting.  See you on Thursday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbrdG638JjM&list=PLA36FEBDC6E5D6469

Wondering about tatoos in the workplace, check out the link below.  You guessed it, the answer is no.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/fashion/tattoos-peek-out-at-offices-but-only-at-some.html?_r=0

Another article about the appropriate attire for work:
http://www.pasadenaisd.org/rayburn/Clubs/BPA/contest/women.html