Possible Answer

On October 22nd, I was helping out my mentor organize the office before I asked him a few more questions I had based from the assignments he gave me. As we talked, I explained what the first 10 minute presentation we had, he said that analytical skills were another skill that any lawyer should have. It is important because it helps the public defender find statements or facts that aren't consistant throughout the police report or any other documentation presented at court. He then proceeded to let me read the police reports on one of his recent cases. I was to take notes and talk about my thought process in how I would handle it. Both my mentor and I were proud of myself that I thought of the same things that my mentor has on how to handle the case!

So far, so good!

Research and Working EQ

1. What is the most important factor for a public defender to win a case?

2.

• Communication skills the result of the case is on how well the attorney can communicate with either a judge or jury in proving that their client is not guilty. Also, when sharing a case, miscommunication between coworkers makes things difficult for the public defenders and defendant.
• Experience is important because a new attorney can make some decisions they are not to confident in and make things worse for the client. Having experience also makes cases goes faster since they know what they are doing. 

3. The most important source I have had so far would be my mentor because in the second interview, he indirectly has given my ideas on what could possibly be the answer to my EQ.

4.My mentor is Ramiro Cisneros. I am working with him at his office located in Pomona under Los Angleles County Public Defender's Office. This helps me answer my EQ because I will be able to get a first hand experience in observing what skills they use in court and how they prepare before a case.

Independent Component 1 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

• Since I am barely starting to work with Mr. Cisnero, I will be filing some of the cases, organizing his office, and shadowing him around the building. If I am able, I would be allowed to be in some of the court proceedings. As time passes and I am working with him longer, I will gain more responsibilities. 

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

• To show evidence of 30 hours of work, I will provide pictures (provided my mentor approves of some of them be allowed to be posted).

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

• Working under Mr. Cisnero will help me explore my topic more in depth because it will show me the busy and intense life style lawyers have. It will allow me to understand the pressures and expectations that public defenders face when in court. 

Topic Switch!

Can you believe it? Neither can I! I have changed my Senior Project topic from Accounting to Public Defender.

Anyways, I chose to change my topic for a few reasons: 

1. My original mentor was not able to help me over the school year, so it was in my best interest to switch mentors.
2. This leads to the next unfortunate event, that all other Accounting mentors I had in mind are all too far or also too busy to help me.
3. A family friend of mine was able to use her connections and find me a mentor at the Pomona court building, Ramiro Cisnero. 
4. Since Mr. Cisnero is not an accountant, I changed my senior topic to Public Defender. 

I do not mind changing my topic because I enjoy watching a lot of Law & Order, enhancing my interest in the topic of what being an attorney is like. Another reason is that even before the mock court case in Mrs. Edwards' class, I have reveled in arguing with others, and winning said arguments. I predict that this topic will be compelling to both research and present on. 

Second Interview Questions (Revised)

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

• My mentor is Ramiro Cisnero who works at the Pomona court building.

2.  What five questions will ask them about their background?

• What experiences helped you prepare you for the work you have now?
• What qualities were your employers looking for when you applied to work there?
• What were some of the most significant courses you took in college?
• Was there anyone to help guide or mentor you through your own path to become a public defender, and what did they help you with?
• What would you say would be your greatest achievement?
• What made you want to become a public defender?

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ (Revised)

The Pentagon: 
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

• Something positive would be that I have a lot of new people that I generally would like to know more and that are willing to help me with my project.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

• A piece of research, titled The Role of the Pubic Prosecutor in the Court, has helped me with the basic understanding of what public prosecutors do, besides what media and television series portray them as. It gives the different point of view of what I am studying. 

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

• What has worked so far in my project is that I have a mentor that is willing to let me work and shadow under him.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?  

• The only thing that hasn't worked so far is finding a time where I am able to go into the office when my mentor is there at the same time. 

(5) Finding Value:  

•  What is a potential question you would like to study this year?  (working EQ)
• What is the most important factor for a public defender to win a case?
•  What do you plan to do for mentorship?  If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it.  
• For my mentorship, I am doing to work under Ramiro Cisnero at the Pomona Court Building. As far as I know, I will be helping with filing and taking notes. I will be granted more responsibilities as time passes.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation (Revised)

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

• I plan on interviewing Ramiro Cisneros because he is my mentor.

2.  You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask? 

• I am interested in studying something akin to public defending. What can you tell me about it, or in other words, how would you describe it to someone?
• Is there a difference with public defending and just defending?
• From your perspective, what else could I study that would benefit me in on my Senior Topic? 
• What do you find interesting or exciting about your job? 
• What are some stressful moments that come with the job? 
• How would you deal with unruly clients? 
• What do you do when you don't agree with the point of view of a client? 
• Who else would you recommend I talk to? 
• What books should I read in this field?
• My last question is, what other kinds of activities should I do for experience?