By Stacey Rubain Aaliyah LeCompte is a second-year law student at North Carolina Central University School of Law (“NCCU Law”). Her passion for serving others began even before entering law school. Aaliyah mentored children and also worked as a behavior technician, and these experiences strengthened her passion for helping people navigate challenging circumstances. This summer, […]
By Stacey Rubain Aleah Wordsworth is a third-year law student at the University of North Carolina School of Law. She is deeply committed to public service and dedicated to improving the lives of individuals from underserved and disadvantaged communities. Her passion for this work was strengthened through prior experiences with the North Carolina Office of […]
By Stacey Rubain Over the next coming weeks, the Criminal Justice Blog will feature several outstanding recipients of the NCBA’s 2025 Annual Summer Internship Scholarship. These spotlights will showcase law students passionate about careers in government, public service, and criminal justice, offering an inside look at their Summer 2025 internship experiences. We hope you enjoyed […]
By Stacey Rubain Elizabeth “Liz” Sharpe is a second-year law student at Campbell Law School in Raleigh. Liz has long believed in the power of government to make a difference. Her commitment to public service runs deep—it’s rooted in a lifelong desire to help others and strengthened by her early professional experiences. After earning her […]
By Tavaria Smith This summer, I had the privilege of working with North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services (NCPLS), an organization committed to providing legal assistance to incarcerated individuals in North Carolina. My internship offered me a front-row seat to the criminal justice system, from observing court proceedings to directly engaging with clients and their families. […]
By Shane Murphy Working as an intern at the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission, I’ve had the unique opportunity to contribute to the critical work of investigating post-conviction claims of innocence. This experience has been both challenging and rewarding, offering insights into the complexities of the criminal justice system and the meticulous process of seeking […]
By Otis Walker Friends and Colleagues, Our mountain neighbors need our help to recover from the devastation caused by Helene, and there is a way that you, our state’s criminal justice practitioners, can provide critical legal services to our neighbors in need. The North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division, Legal Aid of North Carolina, […]
By Sadie Pruett After previously interning with the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives and with the Department of Defense, I have actively sought internships involving advocacy for veterans since 2020. Four years later and in my 1L year at Wake Forest Law, I took advantage of the opportunity to intern […]
By Grant Gergen This past summer I spent my first summer as a law student interning at Alamance County’s newly opened public defender’s office. The reason I chose this opportunity truly began from my time in college and the long journey I took before entering law school. I began law school as somewhat of a […]
By Emily Jacobson I looked forward to my first summer for my entire 1L year. I frequently heard older students and mentors describe their first summers as the moment when all the pieces fell together. Heading into their second year of law school, they felt a deeper understanding and appreciation for the work they do […]