Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Literal:

• I, Nisa Legaspino, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
• My mentor, Ramiro Cisneros, helped me complete my independent component.
• (look to the right)
• Basically what I have done is help out at the office where I can, organize the office as well, and help with a few cases. In these situations, I would write notes of some of the cases he would get to make it easier for a judge to understand the case and put the situation in our favor. A few times my mentor would let me guess what would be the appropriate approach. 

Interpretive:

• picture evidence...

Daily report of what happens in the courts. Has all the cases and another way to record proceedings.

Inside of the Daily Appellate Report. Would read these when writing notes on getting an appeal or to organize the files.

Paperwork that defense attorneys' fill out concerning information about the client and their case. It is blank do to privacy issues, but this is something that I would learn to read.

Applied:

• This has helped me with the foundation of my senior topic because it has shown me how organized and busy a public defender may be, depending on the type of crimes you handle. Also, to always work at the best of your abilities because these clients are putting their faith in you. This is essential to coming up with possible answers since I can get more of a personal experience of what being a public defender it like.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

1. What I am proud of the most is that people were engaged in my activity since I included names so they could relate to it more. Also, that they understood the presentation enough to answer the scenarios correctly.
2.  
1. I would give my presentation something like a P.
2. I mentioned my mentor, a published resource, my activity and hook engages the audience which got them a little more interested since it had their names in it. 
3. What worked for me was when I was ending my presentation, persuading the audience that public defenders are people that truly want to help you, not someone who is against you. Also, that they can walk away with at least more than they originally knew about the judicial system.
4. If I could change something, I would make sure to define all the terms I used so I can properly answer any questions they might have. ie Carlos asking about what a "Bar" is.
5. My possible answer #2 would be having the case itself be dismissed so both the client and public defender won't have to deal with it anymore.

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

1. What is the best way a defense attorney can defend her client in court? Why?
2. Are there different strategies or techniques used when defending a client in misdemeanors or felonies? If so, please list them.
3. What would you advise your client to do to NOT make their situation any worse than it already is?
4. How would you ensure your client got the mandatory-minimum, and not anything more if convicted?
5. Do believe mandatory-minimums are a weapon for prosecutors who want to be unreasonable and unjust? Why?
6. Can you give me some examples of a few times where a case was dismissed or anything that called for a plea bargain?
7. Can you give me any scenarios or cases that you wouldn’t mind sharing that I could use in my presentation?
8. What are some of your strategies when negotiating a plea bargain?
9. How would you know if you are getting a fair bargain or not?

Spring Cleaning

I don't know exactly why we cleaning the office, but we are and I was used as a pack mule. I don't mind, but it was fairly busy in the last few room. From what I remember, they are most likely expanding the office. This just goes to show how organized attorneys have to be or situations like these can ruin your system.

I am supposed to sort through all of this! 

Helped clean this area up.

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 hours check

1. I am doing my mentorship at the Los Angeles County Public Defender 's Office located near the South Pomona courthouse.
2. My contact is my mentor, Ramiro Cisneros.
3. The total amount of time I completed for mentorship would be 10 hours and 50 minutes.
4. Within those 10+ hours, I mostly helped him retype his all his files, organize the library, find documents, and take notes whenever we go to the court room.

Senior Project, The Holiday

1. Over the break, I was given a few articles to read by my mentor since I would not be able to visit the office with him and his family out of town. I took his advise and read 'How to Kill a Mockingbird', because it was one of the many books that inspired him to become a lawyer. The point of this was to hopefully find a connection, or understand his passion in this career.

2. The most important thing I learned is making sure that I know most of the penal codes. My mentor gave me scenarios in order to make sure I can get an idea of how defense lawyers think. My most important source would be my mentor (via email) as he was the one who thought of the different situations.

3. I would ask one of my mentor's colleagues in the same department, names of whom I do not currently know. I would also ask a defense lawyer who handles juvenile or felony cases to get a different perspective. Some questions I would ask would be:

• What would you consider a "lost cause"?
• What do you do if your client doesn't take your advise?
• What is considered a win? A lose? 
• What would you advise your client to do to NOT make their situation any worse than it already is?
• What is the best way for a public defender can minimize her client's punishment?
• Can these things also be used in juvenile and felony cases?

Woe is me...

Now that I have an EQ, I'm trying to narrow done on what to research, but I'm finding it hard. There isn't a lot of variety in my field. Don't get me wrong; there are a lof of articles and books on the topic, but not exactly what I am looking for. Most of what I find is just general knowledge I already know or things that a defendant might want to know. Another problem would be that most of the articles online are for private practice  which rarely coincides with what I am looking for. In those cases, the defense attorney usually makes it a priority to make sure that the client/defendant can pay. Thusly, it doesn't help me at all.
Books are difficult as well. As mentioned before, most of them are to broad and go over general information on what law is. I read a few memoirs of notable attorneys, but I did not find them beneficial in the least.