S.A.F.E. Place

Court Advocate Intern

May - August 2023 • Charlotte, MI

What I liked

As an intern, I was provided with the opportunity to connect with real-life people on sensitive issues such as domestic abuse and relationship violence. Secondarily, I also handled clients who were dealing with neighborly disputes. Being stationed at the Eaton County Courthouse opened my eyes to the workings of the local justice system, and I enjoyed gaining all of this experience. My supervisor was very understanding and flexible, and the courthouse clerks were also very friendly and helpful.

What I wish was different

I wish that there was more hands-on training, as I was only trained by someone for one day. Most of the training is done asynchronously on your own time, and you have an exhaustive volume of training material to go through on your own.

Advice

I would say that this internship is something you can really make your own, as you have a lot of room to do a variety of things, so branch out and try to personalize your experience.

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Resource Center Intern

May - August 2018 • Battle Creek, MI

What I liked

I loved the relationships I built with my clients and co-workers. I learned a TON about domestic violence and how to help women involved.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been able to shadow the social worker more.

Advice

Take advantage of the freedom you have as an intern and do everything you can in the office to learn more about domestic violence and women.

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Legal Advocate

June - September 2018 • Battle Creek, MI

What I liked

I enjoyed my time working in shelter most. Connecting with clients was rewarding and educational. I appreciated the exposure I got to legal proceedings while working in the courthouse.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have had more to do when in the courthouse. Unfortunately, not many people came in on the days that I was there.

Advice

The more time you can spend both in shelter and in the courthouse, the better! I was initially scheduled for only one day per week, but I was able to increase my schedule while I was still working in Battle Creek. This made a huge difference in the quantity and quality of experiences that I had.

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