By Jackson Schroeder ’15<\/p>\n
As part of the Career Services Test Drive Program, I spent a week at the Legal Aid Society of Louisville during winter break.\u00a0 The Legal Aid Society provides free legal services to people who fall below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
During the week, I spent the majority of the time calling previous clients and asking them to complete a client satisfaction survey.\u00a0 Yearly client satisfaction are done to show the donors of Legal Aid that the practicing attorneys are doing their job and completely satisfying the people.<\/p>\n
When I wasn\u2019t doing client satisfaction surveys, I was at the courthouse shadowing the attorneys of the Legal Aid Society.\u00a0 The first time I went to court was an eye opening experience because the attorney had three domestic violence cases.\u00a0 While prepping the clients to enter the courtroom, the attorney had to make sure they were ready to answer the judge\u2019s questions clearly and truthfully.\u00a0 The clients were visibly upset by the fact that they were seeing their alleged attackers for the first time since the incident.<\/p>\n
Two of the three cases were continued to a later date with the final case culminating with exciting closing arguments by the two attorneys.\u00a0 After the Legal Aid attorney won her case and got a domestic violence order against the client\u2019s husband, she told me how the case was very unusual.\u00a0 In the beginning part of the hearing, the opponent\u2019s attorney was very argumentative and angry with the judge.\u00a0 I was very surprised by his actions and was later told that he could have gotten a contempt of court charge if he continued in his disruptive manner.\u00a0 Overall, I was impressed by the attorney\u2019s ability to think on the spot and make solid arguments for her clients.<\/p>\n
On my second visit to court, I was able to witness Veteran\u2019s Court, which is a new venture by the state of Kentucky.\u00a0 The purpose of Veteran\u2019s Court is to make veterans enter a program meant to rehabilitate rather than punish.\u00a0 As part of the program, the veterans do not spend jail time but have random drug tests and see a psychologist to help treat their PTSD.\u00a0 The court is structured to provide support to the members who often have unsupportive families or families who do not understand what they have been through.\u00a0 During the weekly meetings, the judge makes sure to act as a friend and supporter who want to see them succeed.<\/p>\n
On my third and final visit to court, I visited Evictions Court.\u00a0 Prior to entering the courtroom, I was told that Evictions Court is like the fast food of law because each case takes about 10 seconds.\u00a0 The attorney for the landlord calls the name of the person getting evicted and if they are there, then they come up to face the judge.\u00a0 The judge asks if a payment was made.\u00a0 If not, the judge signs the eviction form and the next name is called.\u00a0 The only arguments against getting evicted are if you have receipts proving you paid or if the landlord did not maintain the housing while one was living there.<\/p>\n
Overall, I learned a lot about the Legal Aid Society functions as well as the general court process in domestic violence, veteran, and eviction cases.\u00a0 The weeklong internship has furthered my interest in law and opportunities to help others within the field of law.\u00a0 I am especially grateful to Jeff Been for allowing Wabash students to gain experience in the field of public law and also the hospitality he provided.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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