With her heart set on public interest work, Zoë Mieres Fleishaker, ’27, returned to her home state of New York for the summer to work at Brooklyn Defender Services—an experience, she said, that has been a dream come true.  

How did you connect with this summer opportunity? 

It has always been a dream of mine to work at Brooklyn Defender Services given its reputation in the public defense world. As a lifelong New Yorker who knew I wanted to work to better the legal system for indigent clients in my community, I made a point to be proactive about my New York job search. I regularly, sometimes daily, checked BDS’ and a few other organizations’ websites until I saw an opening. I ultimately applied directly to BDS in early fall of my 2L year and was honored to have been selected. 

How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree? 

I plan to spend the beginning of my career as a public defender and have a longer-term interest in civil rights litigation. My prior work experiences, working with the ACLU National’s Racial Justice Program, the Center for Death Penalty Litigation in North Carolina, and with the Exoneration Project through our school’s clinic, have provided me with extensive exposure to the issues that matter most to me, while allowing me to explore different means of furthering my broader career objectives. Working at BDS this summer has made clear to me that trial-level defense is where I want to begin; the pace, amount of time in the courtroom, rigorous motion practice, and face-to-face time with clients come together to create what I view as the ideal foundation upon which to build my practice while directly serving the communities I am committed to. 

Please describe a “typical” day at work. 

No two days are the same here at BDS. One day I may be shadowing in arraignments, interviewing clients and making bail arguments on the record (under attorney supervision, of course). The next, I may be doing research, drafting a motion or working through discovery. We get to join our attorney mentors for all different types of court appearances, hearings and client meetings, and can also watch BDS or Legal Aid trials when things are less busy. 

What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position? 

How long it all takes and how much a public defender office’s resources matter. A client being arraigned today may not have their next court date for, say, four months. Court timelines are not merely an inconvenience, they affect people’s jobs, housing, immigration status, and families in profound ways. I understood all of this in theory but seeing it day in and day out has only affirmed the importance of robust, holistic advocacy. Having attorneys who specialize in mental health, immigration, and family court matters. Working alongside social workers and counselors all under one roof means that clients receive support that extends far beyond the courtroom. Witnessing BDS’ model in action has shown me just how much the right resources can change outcomes for clients. 

What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far? 

Public defense really is about being a jack of all trades in many senses. One moment you are deep in Fourth Amendment case law drafting a suppression motion, the next you’re sitting across from a client and their family delivering difficult news. The attorneys I have admired most at BDS move between these two modes seamlessly and watching them wear all of these hats has been one of the most formative parts of my time here. 

What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer? 

I think the most important question to ask yourself, if interested in public interest work, is what you want your day to day to look like. My school-term externships were incredibly valuable in helping me figure this out. I realized that I wanted a balance between time in the courtroom, time with my clients, and substantive legal research and writing. Know, though, that the balance you get with the same job may vary based on where you practice (for example, I hear that public defenders in Texas are in court almost all the time relative to attorneys here in NYC). The biggest piece of advice I can give is to keep an open mind and be tactful with how you spend your time, because even within the same practice area, no two offices look the same. 

How are you spending your free time this summer? 

I’m back home in New York for the summer, which has been really fun! When work ends, I plan to travel with college friends and family and to continue to see live music and explore Brooklyn. Two of my close friends are also getting married this summer, one of whom is part of a UChicago Law couple, so I still have lots to look forward to! 

What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall? 

I’m excited to be back in the classroom, back in my clinic, and to be back with my friends. One of the best parts about law school has been the community here––the people I’ve met truly feel like lifelong friends! I’m also looking forward to taking the remainder of the classes I know I’ll need before graduating and becoming a real, no-training-wheels attorney.  

Is there anything else you’d like to share? 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re considering any form of public interest work! I’m happy to chat with anyone who has questions about any of my experiences or about navigating public interest recruiting more broadly. I know that firms are recruiting earlier and earlier, but it truly is worth resisting that pressure and following your instincts if public interest appeals to you to any extent!