For Sean Fahey, a summer internship with the Office of the Federal Public Defender of the Eastern District of North Carolina offered more than a chance to observe attorneys at work.
Fahey, a third-year student at NCCU School of Law, spent the summer working alongside attorneys handling federal criminal cases in the Federal Public Defender’s Office. His responsibilities included preparing trial motions, conducting research on sentencing issues and federal sentencing guidelines and preparing sentencing memoranda. He also participated in preliminary federal court proceedings and supervised release violation hearings under the supervision of an attorney.
One assignment, however, stood out.
Fahey wrote a brief that was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The assignment was especially meaningful because the legal issue was similar to one he had encountered during an internship the previous summer in the chambers of North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls.
“My interest is to one day land in the appellate realm of criminal defense work,” Fahey said. “I really enjoy that work, as well as research and writing.”
Drafting the brief offered an early glimpse into the work Fahey hopes to pursue.
“It was a wonderful experience to be in the driver’s seat where I hope to be one day,” he said.
Fahey also contributed an article to the office’s newsletter for practitioners about upcoming changes to the Federal Rules of Evidence and sentencing guidelines.
He credits his legal education with helping prepare him for the demands of the internship. As publications editor of the North Carolina Central Law Review, Fahey already has extensive research, writing and citation experience. His work on the Law Review includes writing about complex appellate criminal issues.
“I think I stepped in with a really good footing,” Fahey said.
The internship also connected Fahey with experienced federal criminal defense attorneys who became mentors and helped strengthen his writing. Those relationships continue to influence his work as he applies what he learned through the NCCU School of Law Criminal Defense Clinic.
“Every attorney that I worked with at the office this summer was totally brilliant,” Fahey said. “Every single one that I worked with, I think, went out of their way to pay attention to us and our growth and success.”
A New Orleans native and Tulane University graduate, Fahey worked as a journalist covering criminal justice issues before attending law school.
Fahey encourages other law students interested in similar opportunities to begin their internship searches early and be prepared to act when opportunities arise. He applied for his summer internship with Justice Earls during winter break of his first year and worked with his legal writing professor to prepare a polished writing sample so he could apply early.
“You’ve got to keep your eyes peeled and be ready to hop on it,” Fahey said.
His summer with the Federal Public Defender’s Office was secured even earlier — before his previous summer internship ended.
“I think that I’ve learned so much more about being a lawyer from my summer internships than any doctrinal class,” Fahey said.
As he completes his final year at NCCU School of Law, Fahey is carrying those experiences into the Criminal Defense Clinic and toward his goal of a career in appellate criminal defense.