When I first applied for my internship at the Public Defender's Office, I had thought that the interaction between the jailers and other administrators of the prison would have been the most adaptable to the material discussed in class. Unexpectedly, I found that the interaction between the firm's legal staff was particularly relevant to my studies, synthesizing the interaction between the legal and public professions; all the caveats, exceptions and limitations associated with operating in the public sector merge with the complexities and absurdities of criminal defense law. Items of budgeting, ethical management and staffing have been demonstrated in the office, from the resignation of an attorney to shortages of essential office furniture and equipment. In addition to the administrative aspects of my office job, the opportunity to interview potential clients in the county jail helped broaden my worldview. To receive representation from the Public Defender's Office an individual must qualify as indigent. An indigent evaluation takes place at the county jail, often within 24 hours of arrest, except in cases of probation revocations or weekend arrests. As an intern, I was expected to request and record personal/financial information in order to prepare the attorney for the admissions court and confirm the prospective client's status. The time I spent interacting with these people will likely be the biggest “take-away” from my experience at the PD's office. Respondents often face withdrawal symptoms, the loss of children, or serious mental/physical health conditions. In my day, socioeconomic, racial, educational, and ethnic identity… at the center of the card… or team. I do not mean to suggest that the intricacies of a copier should be taught in class, but simply that it is useful to develop these skills while still in school. My knowledge of criminal procedure and some aspects of the legal profession was limited when I began working at the public defender's office. Over time, I have been able to develop a reasonable understanding of the functions and importance of PDs, including the overall influence of the services they provide within the criminal justice system. I have not had the opportunity to take the American Legal Systems course offered at UW-L, but I imagine the course material would sufficiently cover most of the information I have been able to glean from my time at the PD's office. This being the case, I have no recommendations for future course development or improvement of existing courses.