During an advising appointment a few weeks ago, I found out that one of my currents students and advisees is doing an internship that I would have loved to have when I was an undergrad! No, she is not interning at a cupcake bakery. She is working as an intern at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office! Dah dum! (Those were the Law & Order chimes, in case you couldn’t tell). I asked junior Communication Studies major Brittany Silveira if she would be willing to share her internship experience with us here on the blog.
Here she is…
Q: Where do you intern and what do they do?
Brittany: “I intern at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and their office investigates and prosecutes crime in San Francisco while also supporting victims of crime. I work in the Communications department where they organize media and community events, organize the Department’s outreach materials, and track news stories.”
Q: How did you find this internship?
Brittany: “I heard about this internship in one of the emails about internship opportunities from Christine Lee.” (The COMS Department Program Assistant Extraordinaire!)
Q: Why did you decide to intern there?
Brittany: “I decided to intern there because they worked with the news, social media, and events, which are all careers paths that I consider taking. Also, the internship gives you an inside look at the criminal justice system and a chance to work around many lawyers, which really connected to me because I am considering law school after graduation.”
Q: What do you do on a regular basis at your internship?
Brittany: “Everyday I track news stories that the DA is featured in, along with news stories about local crime and law enforcement, as well as articles about local politics here in San Francisco. Every week I write up sample tweets about whatever policy the DA is working on. From that list, he and his team choose which ones will be sent out on his Twitter and Facebook. And I usually do a lot of research on policies that the DA wants to change and compare them to other surrounding counties.”
Q: What did you learn from this internship?
Brittany: “At this internship I learned a lot about assisting the media and community relations. As well as learning to track the news. I was never one to stay updated with what was going on, but now I know which stations and papers have better perspectives of what is going on in the Bay Area. I also learned a lot about networking through all of my phone calls with NY Times or the SF Chronicle as well local officers and school officials.”
Q: What advice do you have for other students looking for an internship?
Brittany: “Advice that I would offer other students is check your emails from Christine Lee! They are very helpful and easy ways to find job openings. But the biggest piece of advice would be do not be scared to put yourself out there and just turn in your resume. Even I didn’t think I would stand a chance at working in the DA’s office, but in the end I was one of the final two chosen for the position.”
Congratulations, Brittany! Thanks for sharing your experience at the DA’s office!
