Summer Experiences: Haley Suh, ’25, US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Criminal Division (NYC)
Haley Suh, ’25, is spending the summer as an intern in the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
How did you connect with this summer opportunity?
I learned of this internship opportunity through a virtual lunch talk hosted by APALSA back in January, where the Executive Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) and two other AUSAs spoke to us about the work of the Office. Previously, the extent of my knowledge of their work had been limited to the cases intensely covered by the media—such as charges against the former FTX CEO Samuel Bankman-Fried—but I left the lunch talk with a much better understanding of the variety of cases the Office handles, including work under a recently formed Civil Rights Unit, and was inspired to apply.
How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree?
Prior to law school, I spent a year working as a corporate paralegal at a big law firm and enjoyed the experience. I could see myself becoming a transactional lawyer, but I still wanted to give litigation-focused work a try. I also hoped to use my law degree for good in big or small ways—whether that meant doing pro bono at a law firm or entering public service—and a summer at the US Attorney’s Office was the perfect way to achieve these goals. I’m very glad that I pursued the internship because I found myself enjoying the various tasks that come with the job—fact-finding, investigating, and writing and crafting a good legal argument—and the experience certainly piqued my interest in applying to become an AUSA later in my career.
Please describe a “typical” day at work.
This summer, I was assigned to work with one junior AUSA in the Civil Rights Unit and a senior AUSA in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Unit. A typical day at the Office usually starts with checking in with them to give updates on ongoing tasks or to discuss a new assignment. I then focus on the matter I’ve been assigned for the rest of the day, with lunch and coffee breaks with fellow interns in between. Interns are also encouraged to attend as many oral arguments/hearings as possible, which are conveniently held in the district courts right across the Office. Throughout the summer, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of tasks, including digging through text messages and other phone records as part of an investigation, drafting a memo on attorney-client privilege, and writing sentencing submissions and a draft of an appellate brief.
What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position
There are two phrases often said at the Office that I’ll always remember. The first is that the goal of the Office is to do the right thing every single day, and that’s a privilege and a luxury. The second is the acknowledgement of the immense power vested in federal prosecutors and the importance of having people in positions of power who will use their discretion and authority with justice and integrity.
What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far?
One important takeaway from the internship is to tackle every assignment, every case, with the highest level of care and aim for justice. The Southern District has prosecuted numerous high-profile cases that often appear on the front pages of The New York Times, but the Office also works on many cases involving ordinary people that may never appear on the news. I’ve learned from observing the AUSAs that it’s important to strive to reach the right conclusion and use one’s discretion with the utmost integrity in every single case.
What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer?
To anyone interested in public service and the work of a federal prosecutor’s office, I highly recommend applying to U.S. Attorney Offices for your 1L summer. The Southern District doesn’t hire law students immediately after graduation and it could be several years before you apply to become an AUSA, so doing an internship is a great way to see if this is the type of work you might be interested in pursuing at some point in your career.
How are you spending your free time this summer?
There is always so much to do and see in New York, and I feel grateful to be back in my favorite city this summer. I love trying out all the latest Korean restaurants in the city, going to the ballet at the Lincoln Center, hitting the gym, and catching up with old friends.
What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall?
I’m excited to curate my course load to expand upon what I learned this summer and gain deeper knowledge in criminal procedure, evidence, and corporate and securities law. And of course, seeing friends I haven’t seen the entire summer.