Caleb Epperson was an intern in the TRC as a Senior during the 2018 fall semester. He is currently in his third year of law school at the University of Arkansas School of Law, focusing on Criminal Defense and Criminal Post-Conviction representation. We are very grateful to Caleb for taking the time to answer our questions. To learn more about our internships, click here.
What did you do after your internship and where are you now?
After graduating in May 2019, I started a three year J.D. program at the University of Arkansas School of Law. While law students rarely work during their 1L year, I was able to begin obtaining legal experience in the summer of 2020. I worked as a Research Assistant for Professor Howard Brill and began a long-term pro bono project with Disability Rights Arkansas. In the fall of 2020 I began as an Extern for the Washington County Public Defender’s Office, and was able to return to the PD’s office in May 2021 to begin a position as a Law Clerk. I have also had at the great opportunity to work for the Criminal Practice Clinic at UARK Law as a Student Attorney since January 2021.
What do you like most about your career path so far?
Criminal Justice has been passion of mine for as long as I remember. Law school and my work with the PD’s office has offered numerous opportunities to examine our Criminal Justice System from various perspectives and has provided a realistic outlook on what everyday people face when traversing the legal realm. UARK Law has an incredibly strong Criminal Law program, with incredible staff members such as Dean Tiffany Murphy, Professor Jordan Woods, Professor Laurent Sacharoff, and Professor Alex Nunn. I also have to give credit to all the incredible attorneys at the Washington County Public Defender’s office and the Criminal Practice Clinic for being stellar examples of what it means to be a practicing attorney.
Did any internship/student research experiences shape your decisions about school or jobs after graduation?
Before my semester with the TRC, I was solely focused on the litigation aspects of Criminal Law practice. However, as we got deeper into the semester, I found that I had a growing passion for the research aspects of Criminal Justice. I credit my time with the TRC as the motivating factor that pushed me to join the Arkansas Law Review my 2L year of Law School. My major research article concerning the potential abuse of judicial discretion in a specialized classification of jury instructions is set for publication in April 2022.
Do you have any advice for current interns regarding how to get the most out of their internship experiences?
To make the most out of your time with the TRC and other internships during undergrad, be willing seek out special projects and assignments from your supervisors. These side projects personally helped me not only better understand the work that I was doing within the scope of the internship, but provided me with invaluable experiences and skills that I still put to use. Plus, you’ll win some brownie points with your supervisors. Working with the TRC is such a rare and unique opportunity for students. The work that students do make a difference on a national scale, and anyone who is able to be involved should be proud of their work.
What do you miss most about your undergraduate experience?
While I’m fortunately still in Fayetteville—the #1 place to live despite what the polls might say—I do miss being able to interact with the rest of campus. The hectic life of a law student rarely lets me slip away, but when I do I’m reminded of just how great of a campus we have. Old Main in the fall is still the best place to be.