The Robert H. Jackson Center offers internships for college students as a major part of its educational mission. Internships are NOT limited to students with pre-law ambitions, although it is expected that most applicants will come from that field. All students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program may apply, as well as graduate school students who have not had professional experience as attorneys. An interest in research and/or writing is the most important qualification for the internship.
Interns will work directly with Gregory Peterson, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Robert H. Jackson Center, as they determine their project. Each project will allow the intern to experience the legal profession through the life and career of a major figure in the history of the United States, Robert H. Jackson. Areas of work are subject to discussion and will reflect the skills and interests of the intern and the needs of the Jackson Center. Some possibilities include the following:
- Working with the Jackson Center webmaster to expand the information offered on the www.roberthjackson.org web site related to the life and accomplishments of Robert H. Jackson.
- Researching local newspaper files and Chautauqua County Court records.
- Developing time lines and or scripts based on the Jackson Center’s archived cablecasts and videotapes of interviews and speeches. This will be directly related to the long-term goal of eventually producing programs related to:
- Jackson’s 20 years as a country lawyer in Chautauqua County
- Jackson’s years with the Roosevelt administration, capped as Solicitor General of the United States
- Cases in which Jackson wrote opinions during his years as Associate Justice on the US Supreme Court
- Prosecution of the Nuremberg War Trials, which Jackson served as Chief Prosecutor
A double-spaced, word processed Personal Reaction Paper will be prepared that clearly describes how the intern utilized the knowledge that was brought to the intern experience, and the knowledge that was achieved as a result of the experience. The paper will address each of the following sub-topics:
- Summary of intern responsibilities.
Includes projects, experiences, work assignments, achievements, and sources of satisfaction. Uses concrete examples. - Learning from the internship.
Describes the knowledge, skills and/or competencies obtained during the internship. - Assessment/Conclusion.
- What was learned about self and abilities
- How the experience has complemented academic studies
- What has been learned about career interests from the internship
- An assessment of the guidance and assistance that was received
- Gregory Peterson, Esq.
Robert H. Jackson Center
305 East 4th Street
Jamestown, NY 14701