Jaclyn Ahlgren, a Humanities–Prelaw senior from Beverly Hills, Michigan, interned this summer at the Oakland County Circuit Court under Judge Victoria Valentine. Ahlgren shared her internship experience in the following Q&A that originally was published by the College of Arts & Letters’ Excel Network.

What were your internship responsibilities?

My internship was unpaid and I was there to learn, so I mostly observed. I did some miscellaneous tasks like answering the phone, getting the mail, drafting emails, researching cases, keeping up with trials, and observing the behind-the-scenes of the court.

How did you obtain your internship?

I obtained my internship through my sorority Alpha Phi. My sorority sister’s mom is Victoria Valentine. For me, directly reaching out to Judge Valentine was the best thing that I could have done.

What did your daily routine include?

Every day at the court was different, but there were a few things that stayed consistent. I would always get there at 8 a.m., and Tuesdays were always crim call. At the beginning of the summer, I was at the court three to four times a week. I then obtained another internship, which left me working for the court on Mondays and Tuesdays only. Tuesdays were crim call, but Mondays were more miscellaneous. I would sometimes go to other courtrooms and listen to the motions they had going on that day. By the end of the summer, on Mondays I was mostly in the family court.

What was your favorite experience from the internship?

My favorite experience from my internship was that I got to watch an extremely high-profile trial. This trial was a business litigation trial. I found it interesting because it was something I had never seen before, and one of the trial attorneys was very fun to watch. I liked the way he worked so much that I emailed him after the trial and got an internship with him as well.

What was your least favorite part of the internship?

My least favorite part of my internship was that a lot of the things I had to watch were very sad. However, it made me much more aware of everything going on in our world.

What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?

In the legal field, everything is extremely organized, which is a skill that I need to work on. During my internship, my organization skills were definitely challenged because I had to balance each case. There is a lot of paperwork.

What did you learn about your career path as a result of the internship?

As a result of this internship, I learned that this career path is a completely new language that you definitely need schooling to understand.

What are your future plans?

My future plans are to go to law school, 100 percent. This internship solidified that for me.

What advice do you have for others seeking internship opportunities?

For other students seeking out internship opportunities, I say just put yourself out there.