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In the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, students are encouraged to discover their passions through their studies and to pursue those interests beyond the classroom. This summer, our students obtained internships across various fields and we’re proud to spotlight their experiences!

Barry Mahmoud, a and double major, has been interning at the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Newark. As an investigative intern, Mahmoud assists investigators in obtaining and analyzing client materials such as medical records, financial reports, and more. Mahmoud is working toward law school and taking this opportunity to “gain some experience in the field of public interest law.”

Mahmoud originally began working in the Newark office in November of 2023 for an assignment that required him to observe a court session and then took the initiative in asking for a possible internship.

“After the eventful day, I was eager to return and spend more time, so I followed up in the spring about an internship opportunity, and here I am,” he says.

Mahmoud is appreciative to do “extremely meaningful” work: “As public defenders, the office handles cases for those who are unable to obtain their own representation in court. Many of the clients are people who come from historically disenfranchised and marginalized communities, thus providing them an opportunity to not only have a lawyer, but some of the best in their respective fields.”

Furthermore, Mahmoud values the exposure to the judicial system as he approaches law school: “This is the type of experience that I could never obtain in a classroom setting. Being able to witness firsthand the way that the federal judicial system functions and the many intricacies of it has been eye-opening, to say the least. Working with and speaking with the attorneys, as well as the clients, provides me with meaningful insight.”

Read more student intern experiences!

Written by Sarah Ramirez