We know what you did this summer: Duke Law students share their summer legal experiences
From law firms to public service, Duke Law students found purpose, responsibility, and a clearer vision for their legal careers.
What does a law student do during the summer? Ask a Duke Law student, and you’ll get many different answers. This year, students spent the summer in cities coast to coast across the United States and around the world — from Rome to San Francisco, Hawaii to Houston, New York City to Miami — building legal experience in a remarkable range of settings. Regardless of where they spent the summer, each experience became a new chapter in their legal careers.
In settings as varied as a U.N. office, Earthjustice’s Oceans Program, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps, an immigration legal services organization, and the World Food Programme, Duke Law students learned firsthand how lawyers make a difference — and had opportunities to make a difference themselves.
After conducting field research on indigenous autonomous law and human rights in Oaxaca, Mexico through a Bass Connections grant, rising 3L Alex Bindrim went on to a summer internship at the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM) global office in Washington, D.C. There, he managed a pro bono legal support network connecting IOM country offices with American law firms and law schools to provide legal assistance on projects around the world. "Working with IOM builds on my goal of pursuing a career in international human rights and peacebuilding while giving me firsthand experience in a U.N. office."
At the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome, Italy, rising 2L Audrey Wills worked with colleagues across the world's largest humanitarian organization to address complex legal issues supporting humanitarian operations around the globe. Her work included contracts and legal frameworks that facilitate the delivery of food, supplies, and other forms of aid to vulnerable populations. The experience, she said, “…allowed me to put my education into action, using the tools I have learned at Duke to help serve the world’s most vulnerable populations.”
As a summer clerk with Earthjustice's Oceans Program in New York City, rising 3L Chloe Wetzler researched deep-sea mining, international ocean law, endangered species protections, and fisheries management. She also attended oral arguments in a case examining novel legal questions surrounding Endangered Species Act protections for oil and gas activities in the Gulf. Chloe came to Duke Law with a goal of pursuing public-interest oceans law. “It has been amazing to confirm that this is what I want my future to look like."
After conducting field research in Oaxaca, Mexico, Alex Bindrim interned at the U.N. Migration office in Washington, D.C., an experience that complemented his work in Mexico.
Audrey Wills worked with the World Food Programme in Rome, Italy on legal issues supporting worldwide humanitarian aid.
Chloe Wetzler followed her interest in oceans law as a summer clerk with EarthJustice's Oceans Program in New York City.
In Maryland, Jasmine Daniels learned firsthand about the mission-driven work of an attorney general's office.
Justin Davis interned with the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps in Hawaii, exploring the many roles military attorneys play in the Air Force.
Skyler Hatton learned how federal prosecutors and law enforcement work together, from the execution of arrest warrants to initial court appearances.
Aparna Iyer worked with Assistant U.S. Attorneys at the Southern District of New York to support their caseloads.
Dorian Alexis worked on removal defense work within a public defender's office. "...I have been fortunate to help represent clients with so many different stories who are navigating the immigration legal system..."
Rising 2L Jasmine Daniel spent her summer collaborating with a cohort of clerks from law schools across the country, gaining insight into the mission-driven work of an attorney general's office. As a law clerk in the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, she focused on constitutional and administrative law issues and engaged in multistate advocacy. “I wanted to explore as many pathways as possible with my J.D., and an AG’s office is a great place to do that,” she said. “This program felt especially aligned with the impact I hope to have with my legal degree.”
As an intern with the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps in Hawaii, rising 2L Justin Davis explored the many roles military attorneys play in the Air Force. Working on military justice projects alongside civil, operational, and administrative matters, broadened his perspective on both the military and civilian justice systems, while deepening his interest in national security and military law. “My family has a long tradition of military service,” he said, “so it was really rewarding to experience the best parts of the Air Force.”
Assigned to the Violent and Organized Crime and Civil Rights unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, rising 2L Aparna Iyer conducted research for ongoing investigations, drafted motions, attended court hearings, and worked with Assistant U.S. Attorneys to support their caseloads. "It has been eye-opening to be able to see some of the knowledge from my Criminal Law and LARW classes come to life."
Up in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston, rising 2L Skyler Hatton’s internship within the Organized Crime and Gang Unit had him drafting response motions, conducting legal research for internal memoranda, attending criminal trials, and getting a close-up look at how federal prosecutors and law enforcement work together throughout the criminal justice process. “The career counselors at Duke Law were extremely helpful in helping me fine-tune everything for applying to a USAO.”
Interning with Brooklyn Defender Services' immigration practice in Brooklyn, New York, rising 3L Dorian Alexis represented individuals in immigration detention through the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project. She researched and briefed a mental health-based asylum claim, collaborated with attorneys and social workers across the organization, and helped develop legal arguments that were later used as a template in a similar case. “This internship directly aligned with the work I intend to do post-grad and the whole reason I pursued law school in the first place! “
The law evolves along with advances in technology, science, and business. This summer, Duke Law students worked where law intersects with rapidly evolving fields, tackling legal questions involving AI, compliance, cybersecurity and national security, while gaining firsthand insight into how lawyers navigate emerging challenges.
At Harvey in New York City, rising 2L Maude Tipton explored how artificial intelligence can be integrated into legal education while creating demonstrations that showcase how AI can support law students through exam prep, resume building, clinic work, and more. The experience gave her the opportunity to think critically about how AI can deepen learning in law school and prepare future attorneys for an evolving legal profession. "Law school is an incredible place to develop these skills,” she says, “because we're surrounded by brilliant, expert professors and passionate students.”
Maude Tipton (at right) explored how AI can be integrated into legal education to prepare future attorneys for an evolving profession.
Daniel Yoo's (at right) internship at Databricks opened opportunities to conduct investigation and support customer negotiations at an AI company.
During his internship, Alex McElya, who previously worked in cybersecurity, delved into legal issues at the intersection of technology, science, and national security.
As an intern at Databricks in San Francisco, rising 2L Daniel Yoo conducted investigations and supported customer negotiations. The experience gave Daniel a firsthand look at the diverse responsibilities of an in-house legal team at a leading AI company. "My conversations with lawyers, policymakers, and business leaders have deepened my interest in the roles that law, government, and businesses play in shaping the AI ecosystem.”
Before law school, rising 3L Alexander McElya worked in federal cybersecurity. This summer, in the Office of the General Counsel at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in Washington, D.C., he focused on legal issues involving technology, science and national security, supporting field counsel at the national laboratories, contributing to NNSA's medical isotope mission, and advising on environmental protection responsibilities. “I got to work closely with fantastic lawyers, scientists, and civil servants on a huge variety of interesting issues every day.”
Summer associate programs offer more than a glimpse into life at a law firm. They immerse students in the collaborative, fast-paced environment of real-world legal practice, where research, drafting, client service, and business strategy all work together. From cross-border transactions to public company representation, Duke Law students gained experience with complex legal issues shaping today's global economy.
As a summer associate at Latham & Watkins in Houston, Texas, rising 3L Maria Echeverry Montano prepared documents for the first annual meeting of a newly public company, drafted agreements for finance and M&A deals, and met directly with clients throughout the summer. “I’ve had the opportunity to take on a mix of meaningful pro bono and hands-on corporate transactional work. Both have been incredibly rewarding.”
Rising 2L Alejandro Garcia’s work as a summer associate at White & Case LLP in Miami solidified his career goals, as he gained experience on Latin American cross-border transactions. He also took part in White & Case's Launch Your Career program, a week-long professional development and legal training forum for summer associates. “I was impressed by the firm’s commitment to our professional development and growth from the very first day as summer associates.”
Maria Echeverry Montano especially enjoyed gaining experience with public company representation and seeing firsthand how transactional matters come together.
In Miami, Alejandro Garcia took part in White & Case's "Launch Your Career" week-long professional development program for summer associates.
Nythia Kasarla returned to Cravath, where she was previously a paralegal, as a corporate summer associate working with clients on a range of credit facilities.
Meshaal Bannerman returned to Cleary Gottlieb again this summer, drawn by the firm's emphasis on giving junior lawyers real ownership.
(At left), Robert Clay's work with healthcare startups this summer reshaped his thinking about how transactional lawyers can advance innovation.
Before law school, rising 3L Nithya Kasarla worked at Cravath as a litigation paralegal and she was excited to return this summer as a corporate summer associate in the banking and credit group, working on a range of credit facilities while interacting directly with clients and opposing counsel. “I've especially valued the chance to gain hands-on transactional experience this summer.”
After spending his 1L summer at Cleary Gottlieb, rising 3L Meshaal Bannerman was drawn back to the firm this summer by the opportunity to take on meaningful work and gain practical experience early in his legal career. Splitting his time between the firm's Washington, D.C. and New York offices, he tackled assignments ranging from antitrust litigation and capital markets deals to a pro bono asylum claim. “My summer at Cleary has felt like a natural continuation of the practical skills and knowledge I've built at Duke, both in and outside the classroom.”
For rising 3L Rob Clay, a summer associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto, California, working with healthcare startups offered firsthand insight into the legal and business challenges that stand between innovative ideas and the patients they are designed to serve. “It’s meaningful work,” he said. “It feels like I'm contributing to something that does good in the world."
Sixteen students. Sixteen unique experiences. Multiple paths to a legal career. Together, their stories reveal how summer legal experiences shape goals, broaden perspectives, and create opportunities for growth, both personal and professional.
Thank you to the students who shared their summer experiences with us!