Hannah Akintoye
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Bristol, Pennsylvania

Participating in Lessons in Legal Aid, the Martin Luther King Summer Internship program has been a wonderful experience for me. From every aspect of the legal experiences to the people that I have come to meet and work with along the way, I have truly encountered a rewarding experience. On my very first day working in Bristol, PA with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP), everyone was extremely kind and welcoming of me, and even up until today I have not noticed a single change.

While working with LASP, I have been given numerous opportunities to learn and grow in legal experiences. Several of the attorneys have made efforts to invite me along to their hearings or to some of their important meetings. Sitting in on these proceedings has given me a better understanding of what to expect in court. I have sat in on a few protection from abuse cases, unemployment compensation, and social security hearings where I have been able see the rules of evidence at work. Particularly with PFA’s, I really admire the attorneys who are able to handle these cases because in some instances it requires them to listen to some disturbing and unfortunate circumstances. Going to court to observe has also given me a better understanding of the tricks and tactics that are needed to succeed as a litigator in court. I have realized how important it is to be quick with one’s speech and to be able to make timely objections in court. I have also learned how to handle situations where the judge may not be on your side or where the judge may be overly harsh. In those situations it is always important to ensure that the record contains any objections made to certain rulings so that there are a number of bases upon which to appeal if the attorney does not initially succeed.

Going with the attorneys to meet with clients has also been a learning experience. As each client is different and brings a different personality to the table, I have learned that it is important to handle the needs of the client to the best of one’s abilities. Particularly with the more out-going and assertive clients who can be difficult to deal with at times, I have found that once they are put at ease they are able to see that the attorney is doing the best that can be done to move the case along and advocate for the client.

One particular problem that I have noticed about clients is that some may not always tell the entire truth during the intake process or when explaining an issue to the attorney. When the truth eventually comes out at a hearing or similar proceeding it can throw off the attorney’s entire argument, which is why they must think quickly in court due to such unexpected occurrences. One way that I have observed the attorneys handle this problem is to ask a few semi-invasive questions during their initial meeting with the client to ensure that the client is not hiding anything or trying to pursue a frivolous claim.

I have also learned that proper client interactions are very important to master when dealing with indigent clients. Some of the cases and situations that make it to LASP can be disheartening. The attorneys that I have seen do a very good job at leaving personal feelings about the matter out of the mix when advocating for their client.

The research and writing assignments I worked on have also given me a better understanding of some of the smaller issues that attorneys handle with legal aid clients. I have found that many of the clients come in with multiple issues which require an attorney to be well-rounded in a several legal areas in order to handle all the needs of an individual client.

In conclusion, I have truly enjoyed working with LASP and have learned tremendously. Through this summer experience I can truly say that I am further convinced that pursuing a public interest career is the right direction for me.