We checked in with Yasmeen Klein (JD), one of the many successful alumni of the TRC internship program, and a triple major in Political Science, International Relations, and Middle Eastern Studies with a minor in History while at the U of A. While working in the TRC, Yasmeen helped collect and code cases for the American Terrorism Study database. Thank you to Yasmeen for answering our questions, and congratulations on your career progress! To learn more about internships with the TRC, click here.
When were you a TRC intern?
I was an intern during the summer of 2015. I was on schedule to graduate in December of 2015 so I spent my last summer of college working at the TRC in the mornings and waiting tables in the evenings.
What did you do after graduating from the University of Arkansas?
After I graduated from the University of Arkansas with my bachelors degree I worked for a public policy firm called Public Policy Associates in Lansing, Michigan as a Research Assistant. The firm did public policy research and evaluations so I was able to use a lot of the quantitative research, data, and coding skills learned from my time at the TRC to assist with their data work on different grant projects. I ultimately left that role to attend law school at Michigan State University College of Law, and finished that program in May, then worked as an Administrative Hearing Officer with the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. I have since become licensed to practice law and accepted an offer to join the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in their Post-Conviction Relief Unit.
What do you like most about your career choice?
I love studying and practicing law, choosing to go to law school over other possible degree programs was ideal for me because the subject is extremely diverse. There is an area of study and concentration for anyone. Personally, I was always very public service driven and committed to public law and the institutions that govern our everyday lives. Fortunately, I had a lot of opportunities in law school to work for different organizations like the ACLU and in the Office of Legal Counsel for Governor Gretchen Whitmer where I was able to use my education and meaningfully contribute to their work.
Did any internship experiences shape your decisions about school or jobs after graduation?
The time I spent at the TRC really illuminated my interest in studying law and particularly criminal law. The research I worked on as an intern exposed me to an almost alternate universe of legal proceedings, investigations, and criminal charges against individuals and organizations who at the time were largely unknown to society. After my experience with the TRC I continued to develop my experience with data and coding by joining the U.S. Extremist Crime Database where I was a research assistant for over a year. Through this work I knew I wanted to have direct access to and a deeper understanding of the systems responsible for regulating these individuals, which is primarily performed through criminal prosecution.
Do you have any advice for current interns regarding how to get the most out of their internship experiences?
Ask questions! Speak up if you have an interest in a particular topic or idea that you’ve been exposed to as an intern. Use this time to watch science in action. Also, identify how these new research and data skills are an asset for many professions. Working at the TRC and other databases helped me develop advanced research and critical thinking skills that helped me succeed not only in my legal coursework but in practice as well. As an added perk, discussing the work that you do as an intern is always a great icebreaker for interviews because the work is genuinely interesting and very few people have access to the information like we do.
What do you miss most about U of A or Fayetteville?
Oh man, I grew up in Fayetteville so I miss everything. I miss the restaurants, the lights on the square, and fall in Fayetteville. I miss the campus and getting Arsaga’s coffee before going to class. I know a lot of people who grew up in Fayetteville that specifically did not want to go to college at the University of Arkansas since it was our own hometown, but I never regretted my decision. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Is there anything else you’d like for us to know about your time with the TRC or since graduating?
The TRC will always hold a very special place in my heart. It was where I discovered many of my professional interests and helped me build a strong career. I also met my husband while I was an intern so don’t underestimate the matchmaking power of the TRC.