Judicial Intern Opportunity Program: Article

The Winning Resource for Your Employment Search

By Martie Garcia

Briefs, reading assignments, and exam time can quickly consume your semester. Suddenly the end of the semester is approaching, and you have yet to begin the ever so important job search. Scrambling through thousands of career services emails for information can be difficult, so consider visiting the American Bar Association’s (ABA) membership services and career development site.

Navigating through the information on the ABA website is simple, and a mere click can take you where you want to go. Last year I found myself visiting the site for the Section of Litigation’s Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP). I applied and was selected to work as Judicial Intern for the Fifth Circuit in the Southern District of Texas. The entire process provided developmental growth and a preview of legal career paths available. After a series of interviews conducted by prominent Houston law firms, I went to work in Laredo, Texas, for an amazing magistrate judge. The Honorable Diana Saldana is a Latina who exudes a justice seeking spirit. During lunches and in chambers, she candidly shared with me her experiences in the private and public sectors. The invaluable journey that I vicariously traveled while listening to her stories gave me a glimpse of possible career options that I had not run across in a pamphlet or a website. Further, the interaction with public defenders, federal prosecutors, the Department of Justice, and district judges enabled me to interact and visualize the process of the Judicial Branch.

As a JIOP participant, I was honored to represent the American Bar Association, Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and the people of Southern Texas. I was humbled to be selected to participate in such a prestigious program, and I salute the Section of Litigation for their consideration. The JIOP director and staff worked tirelessly to pair up the students with their respective Judges, and I commend them for arranging such an outstanding fit. I enjoyed the friendly people within the city of Laredo, and exercising my Spanish skills within a heavy immigration docket was a welcomed challenge. I admire Judge Diana Saldana and consider her to be a great role model for female attorneys, young Latinas, and law students alike. In the midst of earning incalculable experience, I fell in love with my impending profession, and I have the click of a mouse to thank. My best to you as you surf the web to find your summer job.