“A leap of faith”: 3L dives into courtroom work at the Brooklyn DA’s office
Drawing on his coursework, Chris Nehasil spent the summer researching key legal issues and preparing for post-grad life in the courtroom.
Chris Nehasil loves to argue—in the classroom and the courtroom.
Even better if that involves research and writing to prepare said arguments. And that’s exactly why
the 3L has loved his summer internship with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York, where he has spent his days supporting assistant district attorneys by researching, writing and preparing arguments for the courtroom.
He found the internship with the help of the law school’s Career Development Office, where he landed an on-campus interview, got an offer and began the position on June 15. He’s been absorbing all he can ever since.
“I kind of feel like a sponge,” he said, “where I'm able to kind of soak it all in right now.”
While it’s not Nehasil’s first experiential work experience, he is picking up new skills by conducting legal research, drafting memos for felony cases, handling discovery, filing certificates of compliance and observing court hearings. He works alongside four other summer interns inside the so-called “bullpen,” a collaborative office space where they benefit from the mentorship and guidance of assistant district attorneys and other staff.
“We have our supervisor who comes in every day, asks us how we're doing, whether we need anything,” Nehasil said. “But we also have different assistant district attorneys that we're working with and doing research projects for. We can stop in their offices and ask questions—but then they just want to sit down and talk with you, and just kind of get to know you, which has been really, really cool.”
While Nehasil has absorbed everything he can from his experienced mentors, he also deployed skills developed at CWRU School of Law to distinguish himself from other interns. He credits Juscelino Colares, Johan Verheij Memorial Professor of Law, for helping him understand how to write analytically.
“I'm able to do more than just make conclusive statements,” Nehasil said. “I’m able to dive deeper, and I think that is something that not only helps the assistant district attorneys, but also makes you stand out when you're handing over your writing. That’s really, really paid off for me.”
He also recently advised an assistant district attorney on the anticipated judicial outcome of a motion based on his research; though the hearing was adjourned to August due to a scheduling conflict, he looks forward to seeing how judges rule on researched legal issues.
Nehasil, who came to CWRU School of Law—where he studies criminal law—from Kenyon College, also had the chance to put his undergraduate degrees in sociology and Spanish to work when he researched evidentiary hearsay exceptions and foundation requirements regarding whether an officer could testify about statements made by a Spanish-speaking shooting victim.
“[For one case, there was a] victim who only spoke Spanish and had to wait for an officer who spoke Spanish as well. I did some research on the admissibility of those statements, what New York courts look for in terms of admissibility due to evidence rules, or what kind of foundation has to be laid.”
Nehasil starts his final year of law school in August, but he’s already got post-graduation plans: He just accepted a permanent, full-time position with the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, starting next summer.
In the meantime, Nehasil offered a piece of advice to incoming law students: Embrace the uncomfortable, bet on yourself and accept the challenge.
“Venture out and take a leap of faith,” he said. “Keep your nose to the grindstone—it will make you a better lawyer in the future.”
