Introducing Our 2020 Interns! – Part 2
Every summer, Legal Council welcomes a group of law students and interns interested in advancing health justice in Illinois. Learn more about four of our spectacular interns below. (Some answers edited for clarity.) Click here for part one of our intern series!
Tyler Smith – HIV Program Intern
How did you hear about Legal Council?
I heard about Legal Council when my school visited Chicago and we toured various firms. Although I didn’t go to Legal Council, someone at a firm mentioned the organization and I was really interested to learn more.
Why did you want to intern with Legal Council?
The AIDS crisis is an important part of LGBTQ history. As a gay man, I wanted to learn more about what is being done to advocate for people with HIV and educate myself about HIV-related issues.
What do you hope to learn this summer?
My biggest goal is to learn about the systemic barriers people face when they are diagnosed with HIV. I also want to learn how to fight the stigma surrounding an HIV diagnosis and help educate the public to reduce transmissions.
If a movie was made of your life, what genre would it be and who would play you?
My life would definitely be a comedy in the style of the Office. I’m really awkward and clumsy. I have no idea who would play me, but I feel really sorry for that person!
Are you a cat or dog person?
I’m definitely a dog person. I have a 15 pound Boston Terrier named Dewey, and I spoil her to no end. I like cats, but my dog is my baby.
Jordan Shanesy – Homeless Program Intern
How did you hear about Legal Council?
I knew that I wanted to work in public interest law over the summer, so I looked for jobs on the Public Interest Law Initiative’s (PILI) website. As soon as I saw the description of Legal Council’s work and projects for the summer, I knew that I wanted to apply.
Why did you want to intern with Legal Council?
In undergraduate, I studied psychology and was particularly interested in mental health and trauma-related research. Legal Council’s Homeless program works directly with clients who have often experienced trauma and suffer from various mental and physical impairments. When I saw the description of what the program does, I knew immediately that I wanted this amazing opportunity to combine my legal skills with the work that I did as an undergraduate.
What do you hope to learn this summer?
I hope to learn how to be a better advocate. Law school does a good job of laying the foundations to being a lawyer, but I think that experiences like this, working directly with clients on real cases, teach you how to best serve your future clients. I want to work in public interest law after I graduate law school, and the skills I am learning here will set me up to be an effective and caring advocate.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes coming-of-age, YA novels. Jandy Nelson does an incredible job of perfectly capturing the thoughts and feelings that I experienced as an adolescent.
If a movie was made of your life, what genre would it be and who would play you?
My favorite types of movies are horror and coming-of-age, so out of those two genres, I hope it would be a coming-of-age type movie, not a horror. Although she looks nothing like me, I would want Saoirse Ronan to play me because I love her movies.
Megan Osadzinski – HIV Program Intern
How did you hear about Legal Council?
I heard about Legal Council through the Center for Public Interest Law at DePaul College of Law. We have a really passionate group of advisors who mentor students interested in pursuing careers in public interest law.
Why did you want to intern with Legal Council?
Having worked providing direct representation services to detained immigrants and unaccompanied immigrant children, I wanted to continue working to support communities in Chicago while exploring Legal Council’s holistic approach to health justice advocacy. After finishing my first year of law school, it is really exciting to work with advocates who are so passionate about health equity and social justice!
What do you hope to learn this summer?
My goal for the summer is to learn more about Legal Council’s medical-legal partnership model and to learn how to better serve the diverse communities who live in Chicago, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the summer progresses, I am learning so much from Legal Council attorneys and advocates as they continue to support clients while navigating the legal challenges created by COVID-19.
What are your plans when your internship with Legal Council ends?
I plan on reading for fun and working in my vegetable garden. Hopefully, everything will be ready to harvest by then!
What is your favorite summertime activity?
I am from Chicago and living near Lake Michigan is such a blessing. Over the summer, I love going to the beach, swimming, and having bonfires with friends and family.