U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina – Raleigh, North Carolina
During my 2L criminal procedure class, I worried about developing an aversion to Fourth Amendment issues. I often felt that I misunderstood the cases, and the in-class problems were particularly difficult. However, in my summer job at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I grew to like working on matters that involved Fourth Amendment issues. I was assigned to write a response to a suppression motion in two different cases, and the experience was both demanding and rewarding. By the end of the summer, my work on these two matters was one of the highlights of my internship.
The first assignment involved a relatively straightforward challenge to a vehicle search. The response didn’t require much research, so I practiced articulating Fourth Amendment doctrine based on my knowledge of foundational cases. I relied on some of my class materials from the spring semester and found that the supplement recommended by my professor was especially helpful. I was satisfied with the first draft and felt encouraged when my supervising attorney did not recommend any major changes. Nearer to the submission deadline, he recommended that I include an argument that I had begun to draft and ultimately omitted. This revision was an exercise in writing precisely and quickly, but I ended up pleased with the final product. I have continued to follow the case and look forward to reading the judge’s disposition of the issue.
The second assignment came on the heels of the first, when I was feeling rather secure in my familiarity with the Fourth Amendment. The latter issue was not at all straightforward: it was a challenge based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Carpenter. The intersection of the Fourth Amendment and modern technology was a discussion topic in my criminal procedure class and the subject of the most recent Casenote, but neither experience had prepared me to submit an argument on the issue in federal court.
Before I began to write, I relied on many secondary sources, guidance from Main Justice, a designated attorney help line, and several AUSAs in addition to the assigning attorney. I spent my evenings after work poring over cases in hopes of preparing myself for the following day. Ultimately, I submitted a draft in time to have it reviewed by a section of Main Justice, and the final product was filed with few substantive edits. This fall, I will get to hear argument on the motion and attend the trial for the defendant who filed it.
In all, my work at the U.S. Attorney’s Office left a lasting impression on me. The Fourth Amendment issues were just one example of the interesting, challenging assignments that I had the opportunity to work on this summer. I completed my internship feeling more confident as a researcher and writer, and I know that these skills will benefit me as I finish law school this year. I am eager to continue to grow in these areas and hope that my career path leads me back to a U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Submitted August 14, 2018
