At the U.S. Attorney’s office, Chris worked in the misdemeanor section under Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu. Cases were varied (drug offenses, prostitution, sexual assault), as were his tasks—prepping and closing cases, writing motions, interviewing victims and witnesses, ordering drug analyses and autopsy reports, and researching prior convictions. “I do just about everything except try cases,” he says.

Chris admits he was “kind of like a deer in the headlights” the first week. The level of responsibility he was given surprised him, but it turned out to be the best part of the job. “I was mentally prepared for busywork,” he says, “but the attorneys went above and beyond in order to provide me with substantive tasks.”

Time management was a challenge: “The term nine-to-five is a loose term. There were times when I had a huge stack of stuff to do and stayed til 7:00.” Adding to his full days were embassy tours, speeches, and other activities organized by TWC.

With his own desk, phone, computer, and pager, Chris says the only thing he didn’t have was a paycheck. But he feels his internship is a good investment. He plans to follow his grandfather, three uncles, and an aunt into a law career.

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