Final Blog Post

 As my Hawken Project comes to an end, I wanted to reflect on my experience. My mother being a former New York City prosecutor, and my love for shows like Law and Order inspired me to consider law as a possible career choice for myself. As of right now, I am fully dedicated to that track, so I figured getting experience in the Cuyahoga County Justice Center would be more than beneficial. Overall, the project was a success. It ended up being exactly what I envisioned. I was able to learn more about the justice system and get live courtroom experiences. I am very grateful for the work my coordinator, Jason Sobczyk, put into my project. He set me up with amazing prosecutors for weeks. I was mainly impressed with all of the prosecutors I was able to shadow. They all had unique personalities and styles that seemed compelling, engaging, and entertaining. I am glad that I could get different questions about the justice system answered, and it helped to see the difference between TV shows and real life. 

The only part of my project that was a bit unfortunate was the certain days when I wasn’t able to do much or sit in on any trials. Of course, this is expected, though, because you never know what can happen to delay a case or trial. It can be anything a continuance of a trial, a judge not getting into the building in a timely manner, or something as odd as the defendant not having clothes in the jail that pushes things back. Still, the best thing I learned is that you always have to be able to adjust. Many people may not know that when you are a prosecutor, there is more sitting around than you may expect. During unexpected delays, the best thing you can do is review evidence or strengthen your statements and questions (for examinations). The most fascinating thing that I learned from my project is how the Cuyahoga County Justice Center works. A handful of units, ranging from child support to major trial/homicide, all do their part to make the community safer. Since Hawken is not a part of Cuyahoga county, it may not be easy to partner with the justice center, but the center always welcomes new students who want to intern/shadow. With this in mind, I’d recommend that Hawken makes sure that students know shadowing downtown is always a possibility. They are always open to people interning in the summer, especially seniors who just graduated, which could be a beneficial long-term idea for students interested in law. 

The only advice I have to rising juniors and seniors about their project is to do something you love doing and think you’d want to do in your future. In my case, I always wanted to be a lawyer, so this experience has done nothing but confirm my thoughts. As a final takeaway, I have gained a deeper appreciation for prosecutors. They have a lot thrown at them, but it is always important to remember that they will always work in the best interest of the state and fight for the justice victims deserve. The work they do is essential because it is meaningful. It makes a difference in the community and makes it a better place. Again, I would like to thank everyone involved in sending me off on a high, beneficial note.