Law Intern

This summer I worked for Matt Bowe, a Bowdoin graduate (class of 1999) and criminal defense attorney in Brunswick and Portland and the surrounding communities. My work involved drafting legal memos and letters to clients, summarizing Maine Law Court and United States Supreme Court cases pertinent to criminal law, and watching and analyzing police body camera and cruiser camera footage.

My major projects included compiling, categorizing, and organizing a “criminal justice outline” of case law that Attorney Bowe could reference easily while working with clients, creating and using summaries on domestic assault and operating under the influence (OUI) cases, and joining Attorney Bowe as he crisscrossed Maine to meet with a variety of clients from all walks of life.

Primarily I learned what it takes to be a successful defense attorney—composure, organization, tenacity, as well as a healthy love for reading case law. I also got a fascinating view into the Maine law community, which Attorney Bowe referred to as a “small town.” Everywhere we went, from Portland to Farmington, he saw someone he knew!

It was interesting to meet with clients in Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset, and to witness this other aspect of the criminal justice system—that was first time that I’ve been to jail, I didn’t find it particularly pleasing, and it was great to know that my work was helping keep people out!

Internship funded by the Funded Internship Grant.