Rudman Summer Fellow of the Week: Brad Hinton
Brad Hinton is working for the N.H. Public Defender this summer. He is a rising 2L.
Brad Hinton discusses how his work this summer is helping him to identify his priorities and plans for his legal career.
On the work of the New Hampshire Public Defender:
The New Hampshire Public Defender's Office takes on clients who cannot afford representation for themselves in criminal matters. In Class A misdemeanors and felony charges, and where individuals cannot afford their own attorney, this office represents them.
On what his work involves:
This summer, I’ve been going into court a lot with my mentor, and working with clients, interviewing clients alongside my mentor. In the State of New Hampshire, I'm not Rule 36, so I can't have my own clients, but I can certainly write motions, draft motions, draft memos, conduct interviews. I also go to court, participate in the conversations in terms of strategy, how to deal with certain cases, and the like.
On the work environment:
There are so many wonderful things about working here, including representing clients who for the most part are really grateful that there's someone advocating for them. I've also had an opportunity to meet some juvenile clients. This is an opportunity for us to advocate for them in their time of need and make sure their rights are being defended.
This is an environment of amazing attorneys here at the Public Defender's Office. There are wonderful, educated, talented, experienced attorneys here. And it's just a wonderful experience just to rub elbows with them -- but also being a part of the process with them as well. We do case conferences for new attorneys every week - -and just being a part of that conversation, mostly listening as a 1L, is great. But also, to be able to ask questions and maybe provide some input has been wonderful. It's very much a collegial environment. The attorneys here in this office really rely on one another for input, feedback. Maybe they've written a similar motion, and so they share that information. It's a very supportive, positive environment.
The Rudman Center fellowships support students who work during the summer for government agencies or 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that perform public interest legal work. For more on the Rudman Summer Fellowship program, visit here.
