James Ansorge


Graduation Year: 2009

Major(s): Politics

Minor(s): History and Legal Studies

Campus activities:

Director of Communications for the Student Union; Chair of the Student Union Social Justice Committee; Chief Justice of the Student Union Judiciary; Legislative Affairs Director for the College Democrats; Campaign Coordinator and Treasurer for Democracy for America; Director of Public Relations for Positive Foundations; Member of the Academic Speech and Debate Team; Campus Coordinator for Democracy Matters

Where are you interning now (or have interned in the past)?

I am currently interning at the King’s County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office. The KCDA works to investigate and prosecute criminals in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. I have been assigned to the Major Narcotics Investigations Bureau (MNIB), where I assist paralegals and Assistant District Attorney’s in bringing drug dealers and gangs to justice. I undertake analytical and administrative work in supporting ongoing investigations, and preparing those cases for trial.

In the past, I have interned with British Parliament, The Coro New York Leadership Center, and the Elliot Spitzer campaign for Governor.

How did you find your internship?

I had always been interested in the work of the District Attorney’s Office, so I checked the website and found this the College Internship Program.

What resources did you utilize to help you prepare for the search?

My prior experience.

What ways did you explore to fund your internship?

I applied for a Brandeis grant, but did not receive it. I am not receiving any funding or credit… but hopefully transcript notation.
 
What are the two most important things you learned through your internship?

I learned about people I would never otherwise come across, and a world I might otherwise only see in episodes of Law & Order. I sat in on “proffers”, where ADA’s try to get information out of convicts (as confidential informants) in return for lenient sentencing. I always read the long criminal histories of the people I would meet during the proffers. I read and heard harrowing stories of crime, chaos, and retribution. I learned about the tough lives many criminals live, the sorrows of their victims, and the hard work that both the District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD does to keep our streets safe.

What advice would you give other students looking for internships?

Only work in fields that you are passionate about, and which you may seriously consider as a life-long profession. Don’t waste your precious time with anything else. Also, work hard and make connections… you will never know what doors might open for you.

How are you connecting this internship to your academic, personal, and career future?

I plan to work for a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney as a political aide after graduation. Eventually, I plan to attend Law School and work for the DA’s office for at least a few years.