Notes from the Field: Peter Charalambous '20

Peter Charalambous '20 interned for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO SDNY) for the Winter 2018 term. The following is an excerpt from his internship report. 

This winter I had the privilege of interning for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO SDNY), one of the most consequential and respected offices of federal prosecutors in the country. With cases ranging from organized crime to securities fraud to terrorism, the office has jurisdiction over eight New York counties including Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester. The staff, which includes more than 234 attorneys and more than 300 support staff members such as paralegals and clerks, work tirelessly to ensure the fair prosecution of criminals and to uphold the standards of the United States Department of Justice. 

As an intern, I worked in the office’s criminal division in its Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Each day at work, I was able to work alongside and learn from the committed paralegals and Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in my unit. I was able to assist with the discovery stage of many cases, produce materials for multiple trials, draft subpoenas, and spearhead projects for various cases. In addition to these projects, I was able to shadow many experienced attorneys and paralegals so that I could learn firsthand from some of most experienced people in their fields. In total, I was able to assist in over a dozen cases which ranged from securities fraud to racketeering to murder conspiracy. 

After completing my internship with the USAO SDNY, I was able to affirm my desire to attend law school and eventually return to public service law. The passionate staff at the USAO SDNY taught me the importance of hard work and legal diligence to ensure that the United States’ justice system promotes the rights of the accused while also prosecuting on behalf of victims to the fullest extent of the law. I want to thank the Rockefeller Center for making this internship feasible through their guidance and funding. Their grant helped me pursue this internship without having to worry about many of the costs that come with working in New York City. Additionally, their guidance during the application process and training was especially beneficial.