from orientation to hooding
a fixed retirement income,” Davidson said. “They often had one or more children or dependents and received the Earned Income Tax Credit as part of their returns, which many individuals said would go toward fulfilling basic needs for the rest of the year. The stories that I heard from these individuals will stay with me for years.” Davidson’s time with the program began early — when he was an undergraduate student at the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State. His role grew from three years as a volunteer to becoming treasurer as a 2L and then president of the organization in 2013, during his final year at Moritz.
2015 Viewbook
To become involved with the program, volunteers learned about the tax code and passed a certification test. Davidson said his day-to-day work involved conducting client interviews and preparing tax returns. “The most important thing that I have learned throughout my years with VITA has been the interpersonal skills obtained from working with other volunteers and the multitude of clients that I have served,” he said. “I believe the ability to listen closely, communicate effectively, and problem-solve rapidly will serve me greatly as I continue on in the legal profession.”
typically victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking. Once a week, Nieves would visit the Broward Transitional Center with the attorney she worked with, Jessica Shulruff. They would meet with female detainees looking for legal advice and would take on cases. Comparing the internship to her work as a law clerk for the Franklin County Public Defender’s Office, Nieves said she learned through her internship that no cases are the same in immigration law. “I didn’t have much of a grasp on the entire system, but it was pretty shocking to see these women who essentially haven’t committed any crimes be detained in these detention centers,” Nieves said. “This exposure has definitely shifted my perception and I can definitely see myself pursuing a career in immigration law.”
communication, and government ethics. It offers nonpartisan analyses regarding administrative, legislative, and legal proceedings, such as Shelby County v. Holder.
in campaign finance as he’d anticipated. He was qualified to work on voting rights, though; he interned for the American Civil Liberties Union Voting Rights Project the previous summer.
The Supreme Court decision nixed Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which outlined the formula that determined what U.S. jurisdictions have histories of voter discrimination. The court deemed the formula outdated but upheld Section 5, which requires those jurisdictions to obtain federal oversight, or preclearance, before changing election laws.
“It was a really interesting experience to go through how organizations lobby and comment on administrative procedures,” he said. “A lot of my work (was) more litigation-centric, but within the context of election law.” That area, Clinger said, was “the drive” for him going to law school in the first place.
For Clinger, this meant he would gain more voting rights experience in his internship rather than dabble