
Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Undergraduate Intern, Department of Justice - Criminal Division
Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2022
Minor: General Business
What was a typical week like in your internship position?
A typical week in my internship involves assisting the team with research involving human rights violations and other international crimes. I work 16 hours a week: remotely on Mondays and Tuesdays and in person on Friday. I usually work on assignments individually and reach out to the team if I have any questions or need assistance. Once a week, we meet as a team to discuss the various projects we are working on.
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
I work with talented attorneys and historians that are engaged in extremely impactful work. I am attending law school in the fall, so it has been helpful to connect with people in the field, especially people who work on such significant cases. It is also exciting to play a part in getting justice for victims of human rights violations.
How did your coursework help you in your internship?
My psychology coursework has strengthened my research skills, which has been very helpful as research makes up the bulk of the work I do in the position. In courses such as Research Methods in Psychology Laboratory (PSYC300) and Health Psychology (PSYC344), I had to conduct research on primary sources and write up reports, so I feel very comfortable doing my internship assignments.
How did you locate your internship position?
I found my internship on the Department of Justice website. Each department has links for student opportunities and application information.
Advice for students:
If you know a field you want to work in, don't be afraid to look for opportunities even if you feel that you lack experience. I knew I wanted to gain experience in the legal field, but as an undergraduate, I do not yet have the qualifications. I was still able to get a position within the Department, and although I am not directly engaged in legal work, I get to work with attorneys and learn about the field.