Where in the World is Syracuse Law this Summer? – Matthew Duke

This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.

Next stop: Matthew Duke, 2L (2028), Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona

What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?

No two days have been the same since I started. Working in the Homicide Bureau in the 3rd largest prosecutor’s office in the nation, there’s always plenty to do and new opportunities to learn. Some mornings I am in court observing trials or other proceedings, and other days I am assisting my supervising attorney with legal research, case preparation, and trial prep. When I am not in court, I usually split my time between researching legal issues and reviewing evidence as part of preparing cases for trial.

One of the best parts of the internship is that Arizona allows law students to obtain certified limited practice status, so I have had the opportunity to appear in court on behalf of the State and participate in proceedings. I recently made my first court appearance, which was an incredible milestone. Additionally, this internship has afforded me some amazing training opportunities, including touring the crime lab, jail, and even participating in a virtual police shooting simulator. The entire internship has been a fantastic experience so far, but the one thing that I’ve been most pleasantly surprised by is the number of dogs I get to see in the office. 

What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?

The opportunity to serve my local community while doing really meaningful work was very appealing. Additionally, the chance to get actual courtroom experience and learn from some of the most experienced trial attorneys in the Nation. As someone who lives in Phoenix and plans to build my legal career here, the opportunity to work in public service in my own community was especially important to me.

What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?

I recently had the opportunity to make my first court appearance, which was definitely one of the highlights of my internship so far. I can’t share too many details, but in my mind, it was basically my A Few Good Men moment. Of course, there was no dramatic “You can’t handle the truth!” scene, and I did not get to pace around the courtroom like Tom Cruise. But it was still an incredible experience to stand up in court, appear on behalf of the State, and take part in an actual proceeding.

How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?

It has been encouraging to see how the foundational skills I learned at Syracuse Law apply in real-world settings. The research and writing assignments I completed for my professors have been very similar to the assignments I have received during my internship, which has given me a lot of confidence in my ability to contribute. I may not know how to do everything right away, but Syracuse has taught me how to find the answers, work through unfamiliar issues, and figure things out. I also know that if I need additional guidance, I have the support of Syracuse Law behind me.