PIJD Newsletter

I spent my 1L summer with the County of Santa Clara in the Office of the County Counsel. The office includes a staff of 250+ people, including 110+ attorneys, who serve as the County's general counsel. County Counsel works on all facets of the County’s operations; you may not know how many things that entails: taxation, vector control, election administration, public hospitals, correctional facilities, land use, animal shelters, parks, and so much more. For scale, the County has 24,000+ employees and a $14.7 billion dollar budget for 2026-2027.

I was fortunate to join the Finance, Government Operations, and Technology Team, which itself covers a breadth of topics. Primarily, I wrote internal memos on various research topics. For example, I analyzed an intergovernmental contract dispute, a bill in the California State Legislature enforcing the right to privacy, and recent Americans with Disabilities Act regulations on digital accessibility applicable to local governments. In addition to presenting my findings at team meetings, I attended interdepartmental training sessions and toured County facilities with the intern cohort. The know-how I acquired each day carried into the next, which made me aware of my real-time growth.

Before law school, I had worked in two other County departments; my experience working alongside County Counsel led me to law school. Reentering the County with my new legal toolset was eye-opening. Interning with County Counsel broadened my understanding of what this County does, and generally what local government can do for its residents. Contributing to the County, and the community it serves, reinforced my interest in a legal career in public law. I am grateful to have been awarded a Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship to support me in this role.