Holly Prince, a dedicated 2L law student at Seton Hall University School of Law, reflects on her diverse legal experiences, including her judicial internship with The Honorable Michael A. Shipp. Holly shares insights into her passion for criminal law, research, and writing, and how her unique background shapes her approach to law.
Can you describe your experience working as a Judicial Intern for The Honorable Michael A. Shipp? What were some key takeaways?
My experience as a judicial intern for The Honorable Michael A. Shipp was extremely enjoyable and educational. The clerks were fantastic mentors, and I worked on writing assignments and observed trials. I really enjoyed watching different attorneys in court and observing their styles. The writing assignments were extremely helpful in terms of improving my research and writing skills and learning to grapple with different legal issues. I was faced with many tasks with which I was unfamiliar, which was intimidating at first, but this internship taught me that I will always be faced with projects that are unfamiliar to me, and as long as I have the necessary problem-solving skills, I can be successful with whatever comes my way.
How did drafting Memorandum Opinions on various motions enhance your legal writing and analytical skills?
This part of the internship allowed me to grow in terms of my research and writing skills, as well as learning to dive into an issue that I had never been exposed to before. Drafting an opinion under the supervision of the law clerk was a fantastic learning experience. I would do my research, confer with the law clerk about where my thoughts were regarding the issue, draft a version, hand it in to the clerk, and receive feedback. This enhanced my legal research and writing skills because not only did I have the opportunity to discuss the issues with the law clerk and receive guidance, but I also made many mistakes from which I learned, allowing me to better myself for next time.
What insights did you gain from assisting with trial preparation and participating in moot oral arguments during your internship at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey?
Trial preparation and watching trials were probably my favorite parts of the internship. I really enjoyed watching the attorneys, learning their styles, and seeing what their arguments were. The moot oral argument I participated in was a fun exercise we did about an issue that was before the Court. What I took away from watching trials and participating in a moot oral argument is how intensely prepared attorneys must be before stepping into the courtroom. They never know exactly how it may go and must be ready for anything. Knowing every detail of the case seems crucial to handling any surprises.
How did your internship with the Special Victim’s Unit at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office shape your understanding of criminal law?
I had the opportunity to intern at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office during the summer of 2022 when I was going into my senior year of college. I was assigned to the Special Victim’s Unit, where I watched interviews with victims and witnesses, and I attended court with the assistant prosecutors. I was able to observe firsthand the sensitive nature of such matters. In criminal law, people’s lives are being affected in very negative ways. The passion and drive needed to do that job are unrelenting. I really appreciated the opportunity to see detectives and prosecutors work together as a cohesive community. Their work was very inspiring.
Can you elaborate on the presentations you attended from various units such as Homicide, Narcotics, Canine, and Cyber Security during your time at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office?
Since each intern was assigned to a specific unit, we were not able to spend much time in other areas of the Prosecutor’s Office. Therefore, each different unit put together a presentation, allowing us to get a little exposure to the areas we were not assigned to. I really liked these presentations because they allowed me to learn about different areas of criminal law. For example, I learned how dogs are trained to detect different drugs and the prominence and danger of various drugs in the community.
What was the most impactful experience you had while interning at Critchley, Kinum, & Luria LLC?
I had the opportunity to work at Critchley, Kinum, & Luria during the summer of 2021 when I was going into my junior year of college. At that point, I really did not know much about the law, so I mostly observed the attorneys and read different documents. I learned about discovery and interrogatories, which came back up in Civil Procedure two years later. This experience was my first real exposure to the legal field, and even though I did not know much at the time, I still learned about topics that would come back up and help me at a later point in time.
How did your role at Prince’s Farmstand contribute to your work ethic and time management skills?
Prince’s Farmstand is a family business. My great-great-grandparents had a farm in the 1920s that existed through generations until my grandparents sold it in 1990. My dad and aunt grew up on the farm, so in 2016 my aunt decided to open a smaller reiteration of the family business. Pictures of my ancestors cover the walls. I worked there during the summers from when it opened until I started having summer internships in college. This was an invaluable experience for me. I loved working with my family and spending my days with them (aunt, uncle, cousins). It also allowed me to build my people skills because I was constantly interacting with customers. Eventually, I built a rapport with many customers and became friends with people in the community. My aunt is extremely outgoing and personable, and throughout the summers I really tried to emulate her, which allowed me to come out of my shell. I saw the community that she created after starting the business and the ties that have lasted with people she knew growing up on the farm. Additionally, I saw the hard work needed to succeed in this type of work. I learned that no matter what you do—whether you pursue a degree in higher education or work on a farm—it takes the same type of work ethic to be successful.
As an Associate Editor for the Journal of Legislation and Public Policy, what specific areas of legislation or public policy are you most passionate about?
I am just starting the process of picking my topic for the Journal. I am not exactly sure what I want to write about. I am interested in writing about something pertaining to criminal or family law, maybe something that has to do with children. I am confident that I will find something I am extremely passionate about. I love to write, and I know that if I choose something I am invested in, I will thoroughly enjoy the writing process.
How has your academic background in psychology influenced your approach to studying law?
I have always had a deep interest in learning about the way people think and why people behave the way they do. This is why I chose to major in Psychology. I think it has affected my approach to studying the law in the sense that I am very aware that everyone is a person and that the people in the cases we read are real people going through a tough time in their life. I think it is important to have compassion for people and to have a real passion for helping people in this area of work. I believe that studying psychology has allowed me to develop emotional intelligence, which I hope will assist me in guiding clients and equip me with the ability to zealously advocate for them.
What are your long-term career goals, and how do you see your diverse experiences contributing to achieving them?
I am not exactly sure what I want to do in the long run—I have many interests, but I am still figuring out where I would like my career to go. However, I do know that I would like to find a job that does not feel like a job, but rather something I love and am excited to get up every morning and do. Wherever I am, I would like to find a wonderful community to work in with supportive colleagues where we can work together to do the best work possible. I think that my diverse experiences will help me achieve whatever it is I decide to do because I have realized that no experience in life is a waste of time. Everything I have experienced has made me into who I am, and I believe that my compassion for people and desire to help people at a tough point in their lives will push me to be successful.
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