By Maureen Frank
St. Paul, Minnesota
Political Science
I've known for some time that I want to be a lawyer, but there's a lot underneath that umbrella: corporate law, criminal law, judgeship, etc. Last year, I decided to investigate. I wrote tons of letters to judges in the Twin Cities, asking to become an intern. I received several responses; and one of the few that agreed to meet with me happened to be a Macalester graduate. What he told me has really helped shape my experiences. He said, "Go out there, volunteer at non-profits, get more expertise and come back."
I handled a safety project and made some great connections with Target's in-house
counsel.
—Maureen Frank |
Since then, I've held two internships to help me meet my goals. As a political science major, an internship at Target Corp didn't seem like a natural fit, but working in Assets Protection helped me to see a side of corporate life and law that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise. I handled a safety project and made some great connections with Target's in-house counsel. One of the most important things I learned was that a law degree can take me anywhere-not just the courtroom.
After Target I landed an internship as a Victim/Witness intern at the Ramsey County Attorney's Office. I managed my own caseload and worked on property theft crimes, which is like a training guide to criminal cases, my ideal area. I helped victims understand their rights and answered any questions they might have. I was also able to meet with county attorneys and go to court to meet a victim or simply observe a trial.
Looking forward, I hope to do an internship in corporate law next. Macalester has taught me to ambitiously question, study and explore what I think I know-from class lessons to my career goals. Questioning my career choices has helped me get closer to what I want to do "when I grow up."
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