METUCHEN
PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
At the request of several placement
offices, we have established the volunteer Metuchen Public Defender Volunteer Internships Program.
We also have the Law Office Internship Program for persons at my private law
office for students who are not able to participate in the Public Defender
program.
The Public Defenders provide Indigent
individuals charged with criminal or serious motor vehicle charges with free or
limited cost legal defense. The Public Defender of Metuchen invites students
interested in attending law school or a career in law enforcement to apply to
serve as volunteer interns. Volunteer Law Clerk interns will attend Wednesday
evening and occasional Friday morning court sessions.
Volunteer
Internship Description:
-Interview Clients facing charges in Municipal Court
including Drug Possession, Drunk Driving, Assault, Driving While Suspended and
other criminal and traffic offenses
-Make demands for Discovery on Prosecutor and review
police reports
-Attend hearings and learn from experienced trial
attorneys
-Prepare Motions to Suppress Evidence and Motions to
Compel Discovery
-Conduct appropriate Legal research
-Acquire skills in Criminal Law and Procedure by
active participation
-Participate in Public Relations activities and help
organize seminars
- Update Lists of Prosecutors, Judges and Attorneys
for publication of
NJ Municipal Court Law
Review
- Revise criminal and traffic law Articles and
submit to Law Journals and criminal law websites.
Volunteer to help indigent people charged
with criminal and motor vehicle offenses of magnitude. In additional to time in
court, you will be given research assignments. You can work more hours if you
want. Help people less fortunate than you who are down on their luck.
When I was in law school, I didn't have a lawyer or mentor from whom I
could get "off the record" advice.
Law schools and pre-law programs don't teach students how to practice
law or serve clients. We try to
"give a chance" to deserving law students and paralegals. I promise
you will learn New Jersey Law and Procedures.
On your first day, we will provide you with training materials and
computer assistance. We provide detailed
instructions on office procedures, how to use the Macintosh computer and how to
work on files.
When I was in law school, we were only
told to memorize substantive law and to repeat the law on tests. Very little was taught on how to practice
law, work in an office or handle responsibility. Most young lawyers have difficulty adapting
in their first law firm job. We now
provide law practice management skills such as using computers in litigation,
completing time sheets and interview/investigation techniques. You will use the
Macintosh to type, spell check and print form letters to clients informing them
of hearings or motions.
Law Clerks read the files and are permitted
to handle phone calls out to obtain information needed, such as speaking with police
and prosecutors to obtain discovery and police reports.
Many law firms use law clerks as
research only tools. Law Clerks handle
day-to-day telephone follow up tasks and chase adversaries and government
departments who failed to respond to our Requests for Documents or did not
comply with subpoenas.
There are many responsibilities, which
each law clerk must assume. They must
work as regular employees, appear in professional Court attire and complete
assigned work tasks rather than sit around.
My own internship experience was not a useful experience because the
office I clerked for had no assigned tasks, no specific days to appear and no
requirements. By learning through a real
work environment, my mentor/internship program prepares students for working with a busy
litigation law office.
Our office is now successfully equipped
to handle 5 part time law clerks since they work on 6 computers. We select students who are willing to
dedicate the time and energy needed. It
has been a successful program for my office and we hope to continue this unique
program for years to come to benefit the
students who need an opportunity to learn and prove themselves. We
believe you will be satisfied with our program.
I serve as a mentor and reference on
behalf of students who finish the program.
We show students how to communicate with clients, set up litigation
files, read police reports, and the importance of marketing. We remain
available after their 12-week internship for references and questions. I have a
feeling of satisfaction helping the "non- law review, middle and bottom of
the class" unemployed students.
Someday, when these students become the Chief Justice, they will remember the
lawyer who helped them out in the beginning.
This personal mentor/internship program has given me friendship and a feeling
of accomplishment. We also bridge the
gap between school placement offices and the real world by providing career
advice and suggestions.
If any other students are also
interested, please have them send us a cover letter and resume immediately.
It is helpful if applicants have some
familiarity with adding podcasts to ITunes, or HTML programming, web page
design and maintenance and Internet technology. We sponsor a statewide website
with information on litigation, personal injury, criminal and probate matters.
If you can update a website, please indicate so in the first paragraph of your
cover letter. This office is committed to excellence and service to clients and
the community. Applicants must have attention
to detail.
More info
http://www.njlaws.com/metuchenpublicdefender.html
Summer - minimum 18 hours per week, 12
weeks
School Year - minimum 10 hours per week Sept-May, 12 weeks
Christmas/Winter Break - minimum 30
hours per week
KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY
AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500 (Fax) 732-572-0030
website: www.njlaws.com
Rev 5/21/15
