Authored by Nicole Hoang.

This year’s summer internship cohort built a close-knit community among law students, undergraduates, and high school students.  

Every year, the Philadelphia Law Department selects a group of interns from various backgrounds to learn more about the legal profession and develop their skills. This year’s cohort of 22 students—including law students, undergraduate students, high school students, and recent graduates—brings distinct specializations and interests. To get a closer look at the Law Department’s internship community, we asked a few interns about their experiences.  

Q: What drew you to the Philadelphia Law Department?  

“I wanted to work in public service,” said Kenton Goo, a rising senior at Haverford College. At the Law Department, Kenton was placed in the Health and Adult Services Unit. “I wanted to pursue my interests in the legal field by helping the [residents] of Philadelphia. I also loved the civic mindedness that is championed throughout the Philadelphia Law Department.”  

For others, interning at the Philadelphia Law Department was a chance to know the city on a deeper level. Julia Butensky, a Philadelphia native and a rising senior at Franklin Marshall College, viewed the Philadelphia Law Department as an unparalleled opportunity to grow a deeper connection with her city.  

“I was drawn to the Philadelphia Law Department because of its unique role in serving my City and its residents,” said Julia Butensky, a Commercial Law Unit intern. “The opportunity to work alongside attorneys handling a wide range of legal matters while gaining exposure to public service law was incredibly appealing.”  

Q: What have you learned from this internship?  

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how complex the child welfare system really is,” said Omar Bakri, a 2L student at Drexel Law and intern in the Child Welfare Unit. “Before this internship, my understanding of dependency law was quite limited. I’ve now learned how dependency matters move through the court system, how attorneys prepare for hearings, and how judges make decisions when there are often no perfect answers.”  

“I got to get a close-up look at the inner workings of city government and litigation,” said Nicole Hoang, a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and rising 1L at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. “This internship gave me the opportunity to observe macro-level strategy through settlement conferences and to learn about career pathways through one-on-one discussions. I’m leaving with knowledge that I am confident will serve me later in my legal career.”  

“Through this internship, I’ve learned so much about how the city operates behind the scenes,” said Cache Andrews, a high school intern at the Tort Litigation Unit. “I’ve had the chance to network with attorneys and professionals who have shared valuable advice about their careers and the legal field. I’ve also learned how to file different types of paperwork and gained a better understanding of the legal process. Most importantly, I’ve been able to explore different areas of law and figure out what I would like to pursue after law school.” 

Q: What does your day-to-day look like?   

“My supervisors give me a mix of short- and long-term assignments that fill my workdays,” said Ben McQuilkin-Feldman. Ben is a rising 2L at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law and an intern in the Legislation and Legal Counsel Unit. “I’m often reading caselaw and writing memos. On the second day of my internship, I got to help draft a proposed bill amendment on a tight deadline, per a request from a city councilmember. Our internship coordinators also add enriching programs to our weekly schedule, including through tours of city offices, like our trip to the Medical Examiner’s Office, and intern lunches.” 

The Law Department also offers opportunities for students aspiring to go to law school, with high school and undergraduate students in the intern cohort getting first-hand exposure to legal work.  

“My day to day mainly involves looking up files to see DHS involvement with cases,” said Shivani Nelson, a high school intern. “I also sort files with the help of my colleagues to make these cases easily accessible for Legal Assistants and Attorneys.” 

“My day-to-day responsibilities vary, which is one of my favorite aspects of this internship,” said Julia. “Recently, I researched the role AI played in copyright infringement and intellectual property rights. I enjoyed being able to shadow different units while seeing what each unit has to offer. Each day, I gain new insights on different practice areas and their workflows.” 

Q: What is your favorite memory from or aspect of this internship?  

“Everyone here is so open, whether it’s for mentorship or learning opportunities,” said Nicole. “There is always something interesting to work on: I drafted an emergency press release on a prominent federal case with my supervisor and researched cases for a Mayoral briefing. At the same time, this internship has been filled with fun opportunities, like marching with the Department at Philadelphia Pride, that allowed me to meet other attorneys and legal professionals.”  

“My favorite aspect of this internship are the relationships I’ve formed here!” Shanelle Robinson is a 2L Drexel University Kline School of Law in the Civil Rights Unit. “From other interns in my cohort, to staff in the law department, I’ve enjoyed getting to know so many different people and end my summer with long-term personal and career connections.”  

One key component of the Law Department internship was its robust programming. With planned excursions to government offices that often collaborated with the Law Department, as well as weekly Wednesday lunches that built up the cohort, many interns’ favorite memories focused on the culture of the internship itself.  

“My favorite aspect of this internship is getting to meet so many different people, from my fellow interns who attend different law schools (or undergraduate programs!), to support staff and attorneys who have gotten to work on some really cool cases,” said Trinity Green, a 2L at Villanova Law School. “I also really appreciate the internship’s abundance of court observation, including watching oral arguments in front of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals during our first week, as well as an argument in front of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.”  

Q: What would you say to those who are interested in applying to the Philadelphia Law Department’s internship program?  

 “This is the perfect role if you’re interested in exploring a variety of different areas of law,” said Trinity. “Keep an open mind and say yes to the many opportunities that will come your way. Be open to feedback and view every moment as a learning experience that will make you a better lawyer and advocate one day, no matter where you eventually end up. There is so much to do and so many people to learn from. Even if you don’t enjoy law school, you might really enjoy the practice and public service.” 

“This is, by far, one of the most amazing internship experiences I’ve ever had,” said Nicole. “As the first generation in my family to head into law school, I have gained invaluable experience in and exposure to practicing law in a government setting. I also love the friends and connections I’ve been able to make in this internship—many of whom helped me prepare for my first year!”  

“I would definitely encourage others to apply,” said Cache. “This internship is a great opportunity to gain real-world experience, build your network, and figure out your career goals. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take initiative, and step out of your comfort zone. You’ll learn more than you expect and grow both personally and professionally.” 

To apply for our next internship cohort (Fall, Spring, and Summer), send a resume and cover letter with the subject line “Internship [LASTNAME]” to lawdepartmentrecruiting@phila.gov.