Spring 2023 | Illinois in Washington

Finding my Career path in Washington D.C.

Lilly Port interned at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia as an Investigative Intern. She is planning to go to law school after undergraduate.

This semester, I participated in the Illinois in Washington program where I got the opportunity to live, work, and take classes in our nation’s capital. I got the amazing experience of being an Investigative Intern at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. The Public Defender Service represents people from indigent communities who are accused of crimes. As someone who is planning on going to law school, my semester in Washington, D.C. and my internship at the Public Defender Service gave me amazing work experience while also being exposed to a new city and new cultures.

As an Investigative Intern, I assisted investigators and attorneys with important tasks to help with their cases. Some tasks included writing subpoenas to obtain records for our clients, reviewing and taking notes on police body-worn camera footage, researching police officers’ backgrounds, canvassing the area where a crime happened, and visiting clients in the jail. This internship was something I had never experienced before, and I am grateful for having the opportunity to get such a hands-on view and perspective of the legal system through the lens of working on the defense.

This is the courthouse where I did many of my tasks involved with the internship. Sometimes I would bring clothes to a client who was in trial, and other times I would go print out case jacket records for a current case. I also got the opportunity to watch many trials. It was very interesting to get to see everything in action. I would highly recommend this internship to people who are interested in and passionate about criminal justice. Being able to help out with these cases for people who come from indigent communities was very eye-opening as well as impactful. Meeting clients made everything I did come together; getting to meet the people you are helping and putting a face to the name really helps personalize and humanize this process. Ultimately, the clients are people, too. They are granted their constitutional right to representation and to have a trial, and seeing these procedural guarantees in action was very interesting to experience.

Living in a new city was also a great experience. I had previously been to Washington, D.C. when I was in eighth grade, and getting to come back and experience the city as an adult was awesome. Washington, D.C. is a city full of culture and history, and I enjoyed being able to participate in that. I went to as many museums as I could, and took part in the unique and interesting aspects of the city.

My favorite part of living in Washington, D.C. was the many farmer’s markets and flea markets. I loved getting to see a more “local” side of the city by getting exposed to and supporting small businesses. Whether I was purchasing something or not, I loved spending time outside and walking through the markets.

Ultimately, my semester in Washington, D.C. was unforgettable and I am glad I did the Illinois in Washington program. It was a great job experience and helped me further understand what exactly I want to do with my career.

My proudest moments in D.C.: Helping, representing and giving voice to the people

Sana Ajeena interned with Congressman Mike Quigley in the spring 2023. She pursues a career in public policy and plans to work in Congress after graduation.

To start off, I cannot thank the Illinois in Washington program enough for this outstanding opportunity. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me grow as a person & a professional, expanded my network, and most importantly, it helped me achieve the best internship I have had.

Going into the IIW program and moving to Washington D.C was a challenge. However, I felt immense support from my peers, parents, and most importantly, Dr. Andrea Mayer. Dr. Mayer did everything in her power to ensure we were comfortable and successful during our time here. Without her constant support and advice, I am not sure the program would have been the same!

Obtaining an internship was by no means an easy process. I had to put a significant amount of work into my applications, cover letters, and interviews. Applying as early as possible to internships and tailoring resumes and cover letters in accordance with the internship being applied to is significant. Also, preparation for interviews is crucial. If applying for a congressional office, I had to make sure I knew the policy areas that they focused on and the work they have done with those policy issues. The same process goes for NGOs. Knowing their mission and what they care about the most is important. You want to make sure the interviewer knows that you have done your research and put in time and effort into the interview preparation. That is why I believe I was lucky enough to receive an offer form Congressman Quigley’s office. I was well-prepared and knew everything about his line of work and policy areas.

Now getting into my internship experience, I interned with Congressman Mike Quigley. This was by far the most valuable experience I have had during my undergraduate career. I learned how to thoroughly research and write policy memos, write constituent letters, and interact with constituents through the phone. The policy memos were immensely rewarding because I truly felt the work that I was putting in was substantive and was making a difference in the community. This was especially true when the congressman would sign on and cosponsor the bills that I wrote memos on. It opened my eyes and made me realize how important the work that we are doing is. One of my proudest moments was when I wrote a memo on a topic that I was very passionate about and the congressman agreed to cosponsor it. In the midst of the Texas judge who tried to ban mifepristone, I wrote a memo to the congressman urging him to cosponsor a bill that does now allow the Texas judge to go through with this ban. Upon his approval, I felt the true importance and impact that this line of work has. I was able to represent the concerns of his constituents and ensure that their voices were heard. Overall, this internship has helped me realize that I want a career in public policy and to come back to the Hill after graduation to pursue a career working in Congress. If you know me, you will know that this is a huge breakthrough for me. I was always thinking I would attend law school, however, the line of work never resonated with me, and I was never 100% sure. After only a couple weeks in this internship, I knew this is exactly what I want to do. Being able to help people, represent them, and give them a voice is powerful.

Overall, D.C. has been a remarkable experience and I am forever thankful for being able to experience it!