Inside the Legal Field: A Practicum Journey at Texas Defenders

Before starting my practicum, I was looking forward to working in a setting where I could do hands-on work. A place where I could immerse myself in the legal field and help make a difference. I get to do just that at Texas Defenders, a firm that focuses on criminal defense and litigation. I was immediately welcomed by all the staff and introduced to a side of law that I had yet to see. I had the opportunity to meet the attorney at their San Antonio location and was shown both the good and bad outcomes of cases. This provided me with a new perspective on people’s cases and a personal connection I wouldn't have found anywhere else.

Some of my duties as of now include checking case status, creating pass slips, and preparing case summaries based on police reports and evidence. My favorite task is doing case summaries because I get to actually analyze all the evidence and summarize it for the attorneys. In addition, I also watch body cam footage and compare it to the police reports. I do this to ensure that what's being said in the reports was actually done. This is due to scenarios where body cam footage is turned off or the reports don't correlate with the footage. The thing that has stood out to me in this process is something our attorney, Robert, said: when doing this, we have to remind ourselves that this is someone's worst moment in life. Therefore, we can't judge someone based on their “worst” moment. This has given me a new perspective on case summaries; now I see every defendant as a person rather than a criminal.

I look forward to my practicum every day, not only because of these viewpoints that I’ve acquired, but I also get to see the effort that's put in to be a lawyer. I enjoy being in an encouraging and fun environment, like when I currently get to teach one of the attorneys how to speak Spanish. I am constantly inspired by being surrounded by people who are passionate about what they do. I hope to one day carry that same passion and determination into everything I do.

Inside the Legal Field: A Practicum Journey at Texas Defenders

(October 2025) by Emily Mendez