MSZL&M Partners With Rutgers Minority Students Program

Mintzer, Sarowitz, Zeris, Ledva and Meyers was happy to partner with the Rutgers University –  Minority Student Program (MSP) in order to provide opportunities to MSP students to take part in judicial internships.  Through this partnership, we were able to provide the opportunity for students from historically underserved communities to obtain valuable experience in the legal field.  Two students summarized their experience as set forth below.

Within my role as an intern, I was able to observe various judicial proceedings including but not limited to jury trials, motion hearings, sentencings, jury selection, and plea agreements. I learned a great deal about the realities of the legal timeline and the pace at which cases move through the docket. I was assigned various projects throughout the summer that challenged my research skills for motions that were not as common. I was assigned a motion for default judgment regarding a classic slip and fall case. I also had the ability to research and analyze Supreme Court decisions, and write in depth memorandums regarding each Justices’ opinion. Overall, the experience was exceedingly rewarding, and I am so thankful for the opportunity I was given to be able to participate in this judicial internship.

During this past summer, I had the opportunity to intern in the United States Bankruptcy Court. I couldn’t have been more grateful for the opportunity because I learned a tremendous amount of information about the field of bankruptcy and I also gained a lot of insight into my own professional development as a lawyer. Judges took the time after each hearing to ensure I understood the proceedings and they also facilitated weekly discussions related to the issues that were coming up on the docket. When observing the hearings, I gained a lot of insight into advocacy techniques as a bankruptcy lawyer as I was able to hear the lawyers representing the parties argue for their motions and requests to be approved. It was a great summer and because of my summer experience, I’m more interested in becoming a litigator.

These experiences through the MSP internship program clearly are providing these students much needed practical experience necessary to set them on the path to becoming successful attorneys upon completion of their studies.  We look forward to continuing our partnership with the MSP program and are proud to provide opportunities to historically underserved communities. 

(names of students and Judges were omitted for privacy reasons)