A Day in the Life at the Public Defender’s Office

My name is Julia Longpre, and I am a rising senior at Whitman College majoring in Psychology with plans to pursue law school. This summer, I interned at the Public Defender’s Office in Bradenton, Florida. As someone who hopes to become a criminal defense attorney and work toward sentencing reform, this internship has given me a front-row seat to the realities of the justice system.

A typical day at the office starts at 8:30 a.m., where I will check in with my supervisor and receive my assignments for the day. Often, my first task is organizing docket soundings for the attorneys, making sure they have everything in order before heading to court. Some mornings I review police interrogations, which has taught me not only about investigative practices but also about how defendants are questioned and how evidence is built. By mid-morning, I usually accompany attorneys to court and my fellow interns. Depending on the day, I might observe a trial, listen to pretrial hearings, or watch attorneys argue motions.

By 12:30 p.m., I will take a quick lunch break before court resumes at 1:30 p.m. Afternoons are most often devoted to legal research or organizing jail lists for the attorneys. I’ve learned how much behind-the-scenes preparation is required for each case, and I’ve come to appreciate the amount of dedication public defenders put into their work. By 4 p.m., the office winds down, and I head out for the day.

During this internship, watching real trials unfold has shown me how these concepts play out in courtrooms every day. The opportunity to see how defendants are treated, how judges and prosecutors approach cases, and how defense attorneys advocate for their clients has been truly eye-opening.

As I reflect on this internship, I feel grateful for the chance to be part of such meaningful work. Each day has given me insight into the realities of the justice system while reinforcing my desire to pursue a career in criminal defense. I leave the office each afternoon with new questions, new lessons and a deeper motivation to bring what I have learned at Whitman into my future career.