With support from the CCPD Summer Internship Stipend, this student interned under Judge Curtis Bell in the 9th District Court. The internship combined legal research, writing, and courtroom observation, building confidence and confirming a growing interest in pursuing a legal career.
“This summer, I worked as a judicial intern under Judge Curtis Bell in the 9th District Court civil trial division. Over the course of my internship, I handled a wide variety of projects and responsibilities. Most of them involved legal research on the elements of the cases at hand, and finding relevant information for Judge Bell. This necessitated gaining familiarity with the Westlaw database, which is needed during law school and beyond. These research projects also included writing memos outlining the answers from the research. This type of writing was new to me, but under the mentorship and feedback of Judge Bell, I not only gained confidence in this skill, but enjoyed the process. I also used my research to create presentations and other relevant writing projects. Another important piece of this internship was observation of courtroom proceedings. This helped me gaine valuable insights on the day-to-day life in the legal field. I learned a lot through this observation and especially the opportunity to ask questions after. By practicing legal research and writing, observing courtroom proceedings, and asking questions to Judge Bell, I grew my overall knowledge of the law and the legal profession. This experience strengthened my resolve to pursue a career in law, and has given me connections, resources, and skills that will be invaluable in this process. The skills I’ve gained have also given me confidence to take on new experiences, even if I don’t feel prepared at first.
Without receiving a stipend from the CCPD, I would not have been able to experience this internship and all of the benefits that it’s provided me. Importantly, I was able to work 40 hours a week which allowed me to be entrusted with long-term projects and see them though until completion. I am also grateful for the opportunity to provide reflection essays to the CCPD, as these assignments let me reflect on the positive impact that this experience has had on me.” Eleanor Bernas ’26