Clinical Externships

Discovering a World of Opportunity in Public Service

Kristin Scogin ’04, San Diego Public Defender’s Office

Entering law school, Kristin Scogin ’04 had no set plan on how her legal career might evolve.

To assist students with this, California Western regularly sponsors panels of lawyers to come and talk at lunchtime sessions on campus. Tempted by the pizza offer, Kristin and a friend attended such a session as law students to listen to various lawyers talking about different areas of the law.

One of the lawyers was from the San Diego Public Defender’s Office.

“I remember when I heard him talk about not only his job but what interns did, it made me scared and excited. I thought what a crazy world that’s got to be; I’ve got to check it out,” recalled Kristin. “So that day changed the trajectory of my life.”

Toward the end of that year, Kristin followed up with Ruth Briscoe, California Western’s Clinical Externship Program Associate Director, on upcoming intern opportunities. She subsequently interviewed on campus and secured her first internship with the Public Defender’s Office in downtown San Diego.

“It was the first summer after my 1L year,” said Kristin. “My internship was everything I thought it would be and more. This world that I had no real connection to before just blew my mind. The fact that the Public Defender’s Office let the interns get involved and get to know and talk to their clients was amazing.”

That experience had a remarkable effect on Kristin, confirming to her, even at this early stage, that she had found her true career path.

“I was hooked,” said Kristin. “I interned there every semester and applied for a post-bar after graduation.”

Kristin spent the time between graduation and receiving her bar exam results as a post-bar clerk at the Public Defender’s Office. During that time, she interviewed for an attorney position and, on passing the bar, was sworn in as a fully-fledged attorney in January 2005.

“You’re going to do a lot of internships over your law school career. Don’t necessarily go out and try to find something that you love, go out and try to find something that makes you mad. And that’s when you’ll have found your passion!”

Kristin Scogin ’04

Today, Kristin is the Assistant Supervisor of the Central Misdemeanor Unit and also the Recruitment and Volunteer Coordinator for interns, post-bars, and new hires.

“The Coordinator position is a unique role within our office, and our Public Defender, Randy Mize, approached me to see if this were something I would be interested in, considering my experience as an intern,” said Kristin. “I jumped at the chance as it was so different and unlike anything I had done in this office. I still get to do my attorney work as well as work with these new students and lawyers. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Another reason Kristin took on this additional role is that she understands the vital impact the externship program has on a law student’s journey. “The externship program is important because it brings students closer to their community in general. I know a lot of interns get inspired by talking to clients and understanding where they are in life and why, and this motivates them to not only work on their legal issues, but also to volunteer at events and organizations throughout our community, and in turn pass on the knowledge gained by educating clients on the resources our community has to offer them.”

According to Kristin, California Western students find themselves with unique opportunities in the area of public service. Not only is the Public Defender’s Office two blocks away, but students can pick a lot of classes with public defenders as professors.

“I work very closely with the team at California Western,” concludes Kristin. “I try to get a bunch of people over here because a lot of times it happens as it did with me – I arrived not knowing what I wanted to do, and now, seventeen years later, I can’t see myself anywhere else.”