2025 Summer Internship Scholarship Recipient Spotlight Series: Meet Aleah Wordsworth

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 Special Counsel and a judicial externship with the Honorable Joe L. Webster, United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina.

This summer, Aleah interned with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of North Carolina (FPDEDNC). There, she conducted legal research and analysis on a range of federal criminal law topics, such as the United States Sentencing Guidelines and evidentiary issues. She also drafted memoranda and motions that were filed in federal court. Aleah’s most meaningful project was contributing to a sentencing memorandum where she argued for a downward variance from the advisory sentencing guidelines under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Knowing that her work could help secure a fairer outcome for a client made the experience deeply impactful.

Aleah found her experience at the FPDEDNC deeply rewarding. It strengthened her legal research and writing skills, broadened her understanding of federal criminal law, and provided firsthand insight into the vital role federal defenders play in safeguarding the integrity of the justice system. Aleah was especially inspired by the federal defenders’ steadfast commitment to their clients despite doing work that is unglamorous and often unheralded, yet essential to ensuring access to justice for indigent criminal defendants.

Aleah’s experience at the FPDEDNC solidified her commitment to a career in public service. She encourages other law students interested in this path to pursue every opportunity in the field—no matter how big or how small—and to seek mentorships from seasoned attorneys who work in the field. For Aleah, the summer reaffirmed that public service is not simply an ideal to admire, but a tangible way to advance justice and equality for underserved populations.