Lawyers in Training

Siena's Summer Legal Fellows Program gives Saints the opportunity to work directly with law school professors while conducting original legal research with second- and third-year law students.

Melanie Attard '25 and Carsyn Ide '26 learned from several law professors and law students at American University this summer, as well as program directors in the law school's legal clinics. But even as their professional networks expanded, it was nice to lean on each other.

"Carsyn was an incredible partner, and I couldn't have asked for anyone better to work alongside of in Washington," said Melanie.

The legal fellows handled multiple cases from multiple clinics, ranging from immigration to entrepreneurship. They also took one-on-one meetings with clients and shadowed attorneys during court hearings.

"Any expectations I had for this internship were immediately surpassed by the surreal experiences and opportunities available the minute I stepped foot in D.C.," said Carsyn.

The legal research that Siena's students work on may be published by the respective law school sponsor and provide the basis for legal action in state and federal jurisdictions. Summer legal fellows have the opportunity to work at six prestigious law schools: Albany Law, American University Washington College of Law, Fordham Law School, Pace University School of Law, Western New England University School of Law, and Touro Law Center.

"Overall, this summer fellowship in D.C. provided me with an invaluable experience, one that was truly memorable and that will help me beyond my years at Siena and into my career," said Melanie.

Eleven other Saints participated in legal research this summer, including Matthew Connor '25 who handled more than 50 cases, along with fellow intern Timothy Nigro '26, at Touro Law School Senior Clinic. They worked on wills, Medicare trust applications, landlord/tenant disputes and more.

"This internship has provided me with a glimpse into the life of a lawyer and best prepared me for the legal field. How to interact with clients and draft concise memoranda will be vital for my success as a future attorney. In the first week of the internship, I had already signed to take the LSAT, which I began studying for each evening using the internship as motivation."

Matthew Connor '25