Yana Sokivka, COL ’26, Bensalem, PA
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work as a legal intern at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a federal agency dedicated to enforcing workplace anti-discrimination laws. The EEOC investigates charges of discrimination in areas such as hiring, firing, and promotions, and works to ensure fairness in the workplace regardless of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. As an intern, I was able to learn firsthand how the agency protects employees’ rights while also guiding employers toward compliance.
My role involved a wide variety of assignments, which allowed me to explore different aspects of the legal process. I worked directly with charging parties to draft formal charges of discrimination, helping them clearly state their claims and begin the process of filing a lawsuit against their employer. This gave me the chance to engage closely with individuals as they recounted their workplace experiences, and I learned how to translate their stories into legal documents that could stand up in an investigation or in court. I also supported intake interviews and assisted with investigatory follow-up, which gave me a deeper understanding of how evidence is gathered, evaluated, and ultimately used to protect workers’ rights. Through this work, I gained practical exposure to the ways discrimination claims move through the system, from the first conversation with a charging party to the pursuit of legal resolution.
One of the most rewarding parts of my internship was hearing directly from individuals about their workplace experiences, which showed me how discrimination profoundly aJects people’s livelihoods and dignity. Working with EEOC staJ taught me how law and policy intersect to provide remedies for those who may feel powerless, while also giving me invaluable skills in research, writing, and client interaction. This experience was both challenging and inspiring, and it reinforced my commitment to pursuing a legal career focused on equity and justice. I am grateful to have worked alongside such dedicated attorneys and staJ, and I know the lessons I learned at the EEOC will stay with me throughout my career.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2025 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
