NOTES FROM THE FIELD: SUNNY DRESCHER '20

Sunny Drescher '20 interned at the Office of the New York State Attorney General during the 2019 summer term.

During the summer of 2019, I served as an intern at the Office of the New York State Attorney General (AG’s office) in the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau (CEFCB). This office is led by Attorney General Letitia James, who was elected in the fall of 2018. The Attorney General protects the legal rights of New York citizens, and she also acts as the state’s chief legal counsel. I interned in the New York Office in lower Manhattan, which is one of two Executive Offices that the Attorney General oversees; the other Executive Office is in Albany, and there are also a number of regional offices under the Attorney General’s domain as well across the state. The CEFCB investigates and prosecutes complex financial crimes throughout the state and primarily focuses on cases that involve securities and investment schemes, tax crimes, and insurance fraud. 

As an intern, I supported investigations by assisting attorneys and legal analysts. This work included analyzing and organizing subpoena returns, conducting open source and legal research, creating visual representations of financial transactions over time, and listening to prison calls to conduct taint reviews for privilege. Additionally, I assisted with work in the Conviction Review Bureau, which reviews complaints from defendants who have been convicted of crimes in the state of New York. In this capacity, I reviewed submitted complaints and materials, and I wrote summaries for each case for the Bureau chief to use in determining if there was a need for further review or investigation. This internship furthered my desire to go to law school and pursue a career in public service after graduating from Dartmouth. I am grateful to the AG’s office to have had the opportunity to learn from dedicated public servants and develop a greater understanding of the investigation and prosecution processes for white-collar crime. 

My work often included looking through subpoena returns of bank records, cryptocurrency trading transactions, and other finance-related documents. This often entailed looking for particular purchases or recipients of deposits, and it also often included putting together some sort of visual aide to help show how the particular transaction contributed to the overall story of the case. I am grateful to have had hands-on investigative experience, which was something I was hoping to get out of the summer. I am even more grateful for the opportunity I had to learn from and connect with attorneys and legal analysts in the office. I love hearing from professionals about how they developed their interests and skills and how they have come to hold their current positions. As a soon-to-be college graduate, learning about different career paths and getting to know hard-working and inspirational professionals is immensely valuable. The AG’s office also provided interns with opportunities to meet some of the most senior members of the office by hosting group lunches and lectures. We were particularly fortunate to meet with the Solicitor General of New York, Barbara Underwood, who, among other achievements, recently argued on behalf of New York and other states in Department of Commerce v. New York before the United States Supreme Court. 

With respect to my future career plans, my experience this summer has further entrenched my interest in becoming a prosecutor. I anticipate pursuing a job as a paralegal or legal analyst for a few years after graduating from Dartmouth next spring before applying to and attending law school. The legal analysts in the AG’s office are frequently recent college graduates who work in the office for a few years before pursuing law school, alternative graduate school, or another professional opportunity. It was gratifying to observe what this kind of position would entail. I was able to more quickly determine how to make myself useful by noticing to whom questions were addressed and what extra tasks were frequently being assigned. I am grateful to the Rockefeller Center for supporting these programs (and others) that have helped me develop professional skills and experiences throughout my time at Dartmouth.

The Rockefeller Internships Program has funding for Dartmouth undergraduate students to help defray the cost of living expenses associated with a full-time, unpaid, leave-term internships in the fields of public policy, public affairs, and social entrepreneurship.