Future prosecutors shine in DA office’s closing argument competition
A group of ambitious law students is getting a rare and valuable experience this summer at the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.
Known as "summer externs," these first- and second-year law students from across the country are undergoing intensive training with the aim of becoming future prosecutors. Some even handle cases in court, gaining hands-on, real-world experience.
The 16th annual closing argument competition for Riverside County District Attorney externs held its semi-final round Thursday, marking the end of a transformative summer for 39 law students who participated in the program. The top four finalists had the chance to showcase their skills in front of a panel of judges, putting their talents and a crucial skill for aspiring prosecutors to the test.
"This is what we do in our office, we are trial attorneys, we are prosecutors, this is the bread and butter of what we do," said Deputy District Attorney Ashley Smith. "It's helpful for us, it's helpful for them. They can see what it is to actually have a case and put on a closing argument in a real-life setting."
Among the finalists was Henry Dowd, who spent his summer working at the DA's Indio office. "All that you're doing is helping attorneys bring justice to victims and help them protect the innocent as well. So it's a really, really valuable experience to be here," Dowd said.
Over a span of 10 weeks, the program engages these law students in critical work aimed at delivering justice in Riverside County. First-year law students contribute to trial research and preparation, while second-year law students do real attorney work in county courtrooms. This participation not only provides them with genuine experience but also helps in reducing a backlog that, 6 months ago, had climbed to more than 2,000 cases.
The ultimate goal for many of these summer externs is to become future Riverside County prosecutors. Last summer, 14 out of 16 second-year students who participated in the externship program were ultimately hired by the District Attorney's Office.
"They can hit the ground, frankly, sprinting, because they've been with our office for 10, usually 20 weeks throughout law school, and they've developed their skills so they can be highly successful new prosecutors," said Deputy District Attorney Mike Romney, who heads the recruiting department.
The top two in the closing argument competition go head to head Friday in front of a high-ranking panel of judges, including District Attorney Mike Hestrin.
