Justin Cooper 26Ox

Justin became interested in this role after doing debate and Model UN. “I wanted to gain real world experiences in the law field since it’s similar to my extracurriculars,” he explains.

Aside from the technical skills he has developed specifically to law, Justin has also learned about “the power of empathy and communication when helping clients.” Especially while shadowing the public defenders, Justin learned how important it is to “advocate for others who may not have the background to do so for themselves in a way that is tailored to their needs.” As an incoming senator in the Student Government Association and Resident Assistant this Fall, Justin hopes to carry this empathy by advocating for the student body in SGA and his residents at Oxford this coming semester. 

This internship has also garnered Justin’s interest in open court, learning about case law, and hearing individuals' stories. “It gives me the opportunity to learn how I can help them during one of the most frightening and difficult times in their lives,” he clarifies. 

His favorite moment during his internship has been shadowing the public defender in open court. “Being able to see people walk out of the public defender's office better than when they came in due to the work that was done by the team at Linden has been a unique experience that was awesome to observe.”