View source for April Figueroa and Lisa Lazzaro

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><span style="display: block; text-align: center">Criminal and Civil Law</span><br /> <br />  My name is April Figueroa and this is Lisa Lazzaro and we both completed internships in law offices this semester.<br /> <br />  APRIL: I interned at the Law Offices of Christopher T. Campbell in Freehold, NJ. Mr. Campbell owns a solo practice focusing mainly on criminal law and criminal cases.<br /> <br />  Criminal law is the part of the criminal justice system that focuses on individuals who have committed criminal offenses. Mr. Campbell deals with cases in many aspects of criminal law ranging from misdemeanors like DUI and petty theft, to felonies such as sexual offenses and homicide. As a defense attorney, he represents those who were charged with a crime and works to help them receive a fair outcome, whether it is to dismiss the charges completely or receive a fair sentence. Mr. Campbell works as both a private and a public defender. A private client is one who hires and pays an attorney directly, while a public, or pool client is one that is appointed to Mr. Campbell by the state when that person is unable to afford an attorney on his or her own.<br /> <br />  LISA: I interned at the Law Offices of Chamlin, Rosen, Uliano, and Witherington in West Long Branch, NJ. In contrast to April’s site, this is a group law practice. The staff included 8 full time attorneys, 4 partners, 4 associates, and 12 support staff. The office is a full-service firm that handles both civil and criminal cases. My supervisor Mr. James John Uliano is a current full time attorney at this firm and specializes in civil cases.<br /> <br />  Civil law is concerned with lawsuits, which are court cases that are between two private parties. A civil case begins when a person or entity, such as a corporation or the government, called the plaintiff, claims that another person or entity, called the defendant, has failed to carry out a legal duty owed to the plaintiff. Both the plaintiff and the defendant are also referred to as parties or litigants. The plaintiff may ask the court to order the defendant to fulfill the duty, or provide compensation for the any harm, which can include physical, emotional or financial harm. Civil suits are brought in both state and federal courts. Civil cases that you may be familiar with include sexual abuse cases against churches and malpractice cases against doctors or hospitals.<br /> <br />  APRIL: In our internships, we had many duties and responsibilities. I spent a lot of time completing legal research. Legal research consists of locating different statutes and laws, reading over cases that include these laws, and putting them together in a document called a brief. Briefs were then used by Mr. Campbell to write up motions to send to the courts. One of the motion briefs I wrote was to vacate a guilty plea for a client whose case was not acted upon within a reasonable amount of time by the prosecutor. In addition to research, I also filed and organized paperwork and handled phone calls.<br /> <br />  I was also fortunate to attend an arraignment hearing and a meeting with Mr. Campbell at the Monmouth County Superior Court. I sat in on the meeting with the prosecutor and the judge assigned to the case, watched the hearing, and then went to the holding cell and sat in on a meeting with the client. It was very beneficial because I was able to observe Mr. Campbell and learn how he presents himself and his cases in the courtroom.<br /> <br />  LISA: At my site, I seemed to do something different every day. Mr. Uliano handles multiple cases at once and always needed assistance around the office. I was able to observe depositions where the parties involved in the civil case are questioned by the opposing attorneys under oath. I also wrote page summary depositions, sat in on client meetings, observed court proceedings and researched information for his cases.<br /> <br />  During my internship, I noticed how much paper was used by the law firm for client files, research and communication. For my little piece project I researched the firm’s options for going paperless, including applications and programs that store and organize client information. I provided this information, along with costs and logistical details, to Mr. Uliano. My goal was to assist the firm in organizing their information while creating less clutter and paper waste in the office.<br /> <br />  APRIL: While at my internship, I noticed that Mr. Campbell might benefit from additional marketing. Although he has a great website and business cards, he did not have any hard copy materials that he could display in his office, distribute to clients or send to other professionals. So for my little piece project, I made a brochure for Mr. Campbell’s practice that promotes him and his services.<br /> <br />  At this point in our presentation, you may be wondering why Lisa and I are talking about law at a Psychology Conference. Well, a lot of the information that we learn in our courses such as Social or Abnormal Psychology, is greatly beneficial in a legal setting. Practicing law requires understanding and relating to people, from the clients to the attorneys and judges. As psychology students who conduct research, we also learn the importance of ethics in the treatment of others and in handling confidential information.<br /> <br />  LISA: Psychology also develops important skills that are relevant in a legal setting. As a psychology major, I have learned how to locate and analyze research and evaluate the relevance of the information. I have also learned how to collect data and concisely explain it. This is critical to lawyers who need to analyze evidence and previous case law. It is also important to be able to effectively express information both orally and through persuasive writing. It is the basis of what lawyers do every day and what we have learned as Psychology students.<br /> <br />  This internship has really affected me personally. Through interacting with different people in the office and working on projects together, I have become more outgoing and have learned how to work effectively as part of a team and to listen to ideas in a way that promotes collaboration.<br /> <br />  APRIL: I also learned about the importance of teamwork and have grown more confident in my abilities. I am more self-assured which came from working in a law firm and gaining a better understanding of the legal field.<br /> <br />  As for my professional development, I have confirmed my decision to become a lawyer. I woke up on the mornings before my internship very motivated and excited to go to the office. I have been introduced to the different sides of criminal law and I could definitely envision myself working as either a prosecutor or a defense attorney. While at my internship I received my acceptance to Widener School of Law and am even more eager to begin my legal education there because of the enjoyment and intellectual stimulation I have gotten out of my internship.<br /> <br />  LISA: Before my internship, I knew I was interested in law but was not really sure what a day in the life of a lawyer truly entailed. This internship was truly an amazing experience. It has really opened my eyes to what lawyers do and confirmed my interest in this field. I learned that I am passionate about law and I definitely want to continue my education in law school. </div>