Good Morning. I am Gabrielle Espy and I am a rising third-year law student at the University of Georgia School of Law. I am an alumna of the Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program, having interned in 2007, 2009 and 2010. I was the third member of my family to Intern in the Summer Law Internship Program. My older brother Fred, now a Commander and Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy, interned in 2001 with Hawkins & Parnell. My older sister Nicole, now pursuing her PhD at Harvard, interned in 2005 with Alston & Bird. My Dad was the ROTC Commander at Southwest Dekalb High School for numerous years and many of his students successfully interned in the Summer Law Internship Program.
This morning I speak on “What The Internship Program Has Meant To Me,” and three things come to mind: confidence, a path in life, and mentors. Because of the program, I received the fabulous opportunity to intern with the Georgia Supreme Court in 2007, with Nancy Whaley, the Standing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee of Atlanta in 2009, and with Buckley & Klein in 2010. Since interning in the program I have attended and graduated on a full scholarship from Washington & Lee University and participated in legal internships every summer since.
First, the Summer Law Internship Program gave me confidence.
I have seen Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program create confident students leaders in others and in myself. I first participated in the Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship program in 2007, when I was 16 years old. I was young, shy and had yet to find my voice. During each weekly meeting, I dreaded being called on, because my heart would pound quickly, my cheeks would feel flushed, and my mind would go blank. I had a slight stutter, spoke too quickly, and mumbled through most of my words. Whenever I was called, I would give my favorite answer: “pass.” But through the encouraging words from Natasha Silas, Nekia Hackworth and Wade Malone, I began to feel more confident in myself, my abilities and my voice. Each weekly meeting and internship experience, further increased my confidence as a worker, as a student, and soon, as a legal professional. The internship forces students to put themselves out there and encourages students to speak up. The program provides the opportunity for students to become leaders not only in the program, but when they return to school in the fall. I have seen firsthand how the program instills the thought in students that they can be capable of anything as long as they work hard, remain steadfast, and continue to pursue their dreams. And this ability of the program is what allows students, like myself, to become more confident and more capable.
Second, the Summer Law Internship Program gave me a path in life.
Before I became involved with Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program, I had a general idea of what I wanted to do in life, but it was foggy. From the first week of my internship at the Supreme Court of Georgia, I knew a future in the legal profession was my calling. Without the Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program, I may never have pursued a legal career or interned in a legal office. The internship program provided an opportunity which allowed me to understand where I wanted my life to go and a goal to seek. It was something that provided me a reason to get my homework done, a reason to work hard to get into a good college and law school, and a reason to get up in the morning when I wanted to press the snooze button. The Summer Law Internship Program gave me a foundation, the motivation and relationships that have led me on this journey to become an Atlanta attorney.
Third, the Summer Law Internship Program provided me a group of mentors.
The Summer Law Internship Program not only encourages the students to work hard while at the office but to work hard on getting to know the people around them. From the speakers at weekly meetings, to workers in the office, to those in this room today, the program introduces students to a vast community of individuals. The Internship Program allows complete strangers to become lifetime friends.
Since its founding, the Internship Program has sponsored an extraordinary number of interns and has provided a challenging experience to interns through the opportunity to work in the law. The program creates strong, confident leaders and relationships that will last a lifetime, and I am certain that interns throughout the years have had an equally rewarding experience.
Thank you mentors, sponsors, and Mrs. Silas, Ms. Hackworth and Mr. Malone. The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program is a wonderful experience that has benefited past students, the 2015 current students, and will benefit future students. I would also like to congratulate the interns for your hard work and successful completion of your internships.
The internship opens the door of opportunity. Interns, now that the door is open, what will you do? Will you let the door slam behind you or will you open the door for someone else? You all have had a door opened, been lent support, motivation. As your internship draws to a close, a new chapter is about to begin. You are not the same individual you were when you began the internship. I ask that you all seize on this opportunity to fullest.
As I close, I would like to give the Interns a small piece of advice: never give up, always work your hardest, and a smile will take you a long way
