Menna Delva, COL ’26, Norwalk, CT
This summer, I had the privilege of interning at a private law firm in Connecticut, where I primarily shadowed esteemed attorney Reine Boyer. The firm specialized in business and corporate law, family law and mediation, civil litigation, real estate law, and criminal law, allowing me to gain hands-on experience across all these practice areas.
In family law, I regularly drafted pleadings and motions, including requests for mandatory disclosures and complaints. I also conducted case summaries, analyzed discoveries, and reviewed financial affidavits. On the business law side, I drafted contracts and agreements, such as retainer agreements, engagement letters, and real estate contracts, conducting client interviews to better understand how to build these agreements. In addition to this work, I also gained experience outside of the law firm by shadowing various district superior court judges in Connecticut. Observing court proceedings provided me with a firsthand understanding of the
legal process.
I particularly valued working at this law firm because it is Black-owned, founded by an attorney who is an immigrant from Jamaica. Considering that less than 5% of legal professionals are Black, being in an environment with Black attorneys made it easier for me to envision myself in similar roles.
This internship reinforced my belief that pursuing a career in law is the perfect way to serve my community. Much of my work at the firm had a direct positive impact on people’s lives. For instance, I drafted several trusts and wills, helping clients allocate their assets—something less than half of Americans participate in. Additionally, I worked on a discrimination case involving a young minority plaintiff who was being bullied at school. Although the case is still ongoing, I’m grateful for the opportunity to potentially improve not only this child’s life but also the broader education system.
As this internship was unpaid, I am deeply appreciative of Penn Career Services for providing the financial support that allowed me to pursue this opportunity with greater security. I look forward to continuing my journey as a pre-law student.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2024 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here
