The 22nd Annual Howard B. Eisenberg Do-Gooders’ Auction on behalf of the Law School’s Public Interest Law Society (PILS) will be held in the evening on Friday, February 13, 2015 at the Law School.  Proceeds from the event go to support PILS fellowships to enable Marquette law students to do public interest work in the summer.  Nicole Brandemuehl, a current law student, shares her experience here as a PILS fellow.  Besides her work as a PILS fellow, Nicole is helping to organize this year’s auction.

Where did you work as a PILS fellow?

I worked at the Milwaukee County Public Defender’s Office in the Felony Trial Division and the Early Intervention Team.

What kind of work did you do there?

My work was split, half with felony and Chapter 980 cases, and half with cases in the Early Intervention Program. I interacted heavily with clients, which included intake, interviewing the client on their social history, and going through reports with them. These client interactions gave me a chance to see many correctional institutions, including the Milwaukee County Jail, House of Corrections in Franklin, Wisconsin, and Sandridge Treatment Facility. I also received plenty of opportunities to research, as well as to write motions and other various court documents.

How was the experience meaningful to you?

This experience was meaningful to me because I was able to get client experience that I would not have been able to get in the classroom. Also, my summer at the Public Defender’s Office gave me an opportunity to give back to the community. It was very rewarding to receive gratitude from clients for my help in their case and hear how that help has made a positive impact on their life.

What did you learn in the course of your work?

I learned a lot of very important things from my supervising attorney, Melissa Fitzsimmons. First, when working with clients it is important to not only be a zealous advocate for clients, but also to take a broader look at the individual to fully evaluate what is best for that client. Clients you interact with may have underlying problems that–if addressed–may help to prevent the client from any future interactions with the criminal justice system. Additionally, working in public interest law exposes you to many individuals who have hardships. It is important to maintain your own health so you can continue to work in this field and not be run down by the difficulties you see your clients experiencing.

What do you like best about doing public interest law work?

Public interest law is a great area of law to work in because you have the opportunity to make a difference in the community.  I am motivated to work in public interest law to help individuals have equal access to justice. I enjoy that I make a contribution to help bridge the gap that currently exists.

What are you doing to help with the PILS auction?

I am the Solicitations team lead for the 2015 PILS auction. This means that I have been working on the collection of donations including in-person, over the phone, and through mail e-mail solicitations. I also will be selling raffle tickets at the auction as well as be around for any extra help that is needed. I am happy to be a part of making this auction a success so other students and I can have another summer opportunity to be a PILS fellow.