Dr. Brian Cahill is sponsoring three students that were selected to be summer interns for the Federal Public Defenders office. The Federal Defender Internship Program provides UF students with invaluable experience working on Federal and State criminal cases.
Olivia, Mercedes, and Lilly will have the unique opportunity to receive hands-on experience in assisting investigators and attorneys with factual development and case preparation, helping defense counsel locate and gather background information on witnesses through records, social media, and other investigative tools, request, organize, review, and summarize records and other case materials among other duties.
Olivia Civettini
I am currently a junior studying Criminology and Early Childhood Studies on the Pre-Law track. I hope to go to law school and pursue a career in the area of juvenile justice or wrongful convictions. I’m most excited to help work toward change in our justice system and to gain experience within the field.
Mercedes Tenorio
I am going into my 3rd year as a double Psychology and Criminology major on the pre-law track. I am so interested in both areas that I want to pursue two careers that incorporate them both. I want to practice either immigration or criminal law, and eventually I want to work for the FBI. The opportunity of being in a new setting and having first-hand experience learning about the legal system excites me the most.
Lilly Sills
I am going into my third year at UF as a psychology major with a minor in sociology of social justice and policy. I plan to attend law school, but I am still deciding what type of law I want to pursue. I am involved in a club about wrongful convictions called the Florida Innocence Initiative, which piqued my interest in criminal law. I’m thrilled at this opportunity to learn from key players in the legal system and learn more about where my skills fit best in that context!