Judge Jed S. Rakoff's "Why the Innocent Plead Guilty and the Guilty Go Free" delves into the complexities and inherent flaws within the American criminal justice system. Rakoff, a highly respected federal judge, exposes the systemic issues that lead to wrongful convictions and the disproportionate punishment of the innocent. He meticulously examines plea bargaining, the pressures on defendants, and the limitations of legal representation, highlighting how these factors contribute to unjust outcomes. The book serves as a critical analysis of the system's failures and advocates for necessary reforms to ensure fairness and equity. Rakoff's insights are based on his extensive experience presiding over numerous high-profile cases, providing a unique perspective on the challenges faced by both defendants and the judiciary.
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Are you a law firm owner who is looking to create an internship program for your firm? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson chats with Adam Rossen, who shares insights on the successful internship program at Rossen Law Firm. Adam discusses the evolution of the program and highlights the value of informal yet immersive experiences for interns.
Internships within the legal space are important experiences that help prepare law students for life as a lawyer. Adam talks about the significance of good internship programs and why law firms who don’t have them need to create a viable program. Internship programs will look different across firms, but it is crucial to sit down and think about what aspects of being a lawyer should be taught to interns. Does your program involve tasks like research, client intake or trial support? Think about what soft skills need to be taught like effective client communication and projecting confidence when presenting a case at trial. As a law firm owner, it is important to provide interns with the skills they need to be successful and think about how your internship program can improve as the years go on.
Internships also provide students with the chance to differentiate perception versus reality as it relates to working in the legal space. Many who watch legal dramas, like Law and Order might be fooled into thinking law and law enforcement are the same as what is shown on TV. Adam emphasizes that the legal space is not glamorous at all times. There is a lot of hard work that can take months to complete as a case makes its way through the criminal process. There is also a lot of administrative work involved and interactions with different types of people that can make the work both exciting and stressful.
Listen in to learn more about how to create a successful internship program!
02:34 Starting the Internship Program
09:51 Program Structure and Requirements
15:02 Introduction to Internship Curriculum
22:29 Curriculum Components
34:25 Curriculum Structure for Interns
42:42 Confidentiality and NDA for Interns
Tune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.
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