Desmond Bassett ’26 worked as a summer associate at Maslon in downtown Minneapolis. Desmond says the reason he wanted to be at Maslon was twofold: “I chose Maslon because of the opportunities to work on interesting cases and the firm’s commitment to developing young associates.” With his available time, he enjoyed running around Lake of the Isles and going to the Minneapolis Farmers Market.
Rick Klinger ’26 worked as a summer associate at the law firm of Wilson Sonsini in San Francisco. His primary focus was the Patents & Innovations group. He says, “I chose the firm specifically so that I could support the development and protection of patent portfolios for emerging life science companies.” In his free time, he explored multiple national parks and discovered new favorite restaurants around the city.
Leen Mortada ’27 worked as a legal clerk at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Washington, D.C. In her role, she assisted with legal research, drafted memos and complaints, and supported civil rights litigation focused on combating discrimination against Muslim communities. Leen says she was drawn to work for CAIR “because of its mission-driven advocacy and its deep connection to the communities it serves — values that align with my desire to use the law to uplift marginalized voices.” Outside of work, she enjoyed exploring the city, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with friends at parks around the area.
Cesar Plascencia ’27 spent his summer in Pittsburgh working for the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). His first project was drafting an 18-page opposition memo to an employer’s motion for reconsideration of a National Labor Relations Board decision in UE’s favor. “I had the opportunity to work on a research brief on how the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act impacts the ability of graduate student unions to get bargaining unit lists from their colleges or universities.” In his free time, Cesar joined a local climbing gym, caught a few indie music artists at local venues, and participated in a few protests, all while searching for the perfect espresso at various coffee shops.
Kate Reifenberg ’27 worked in New York City this summer as a law clerk for the New York Legal Aid Society’s Housing Justice Unit. There, she had the chance to draft court filings, conduct intake, and stand up in court with clients facing eviction. She says, “The opportunity was an invaluable experience for my personal and professional growth. The location made it all the more exciting by being able to see theater, enjoy lovely urban parks, and meet some amazing people!”
Jess Schmitz ’26 worked as a legal intern for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in San Francisco. She assisted the litigation team with research, drafted litigation materials, and reviewed documents before filing. Her interest in tech policy and data privacy emerged during her undergraduate studies, and in law school, she has been exploring ways to combine those interests with litigation. She says, “The main areas of law that I’m most interested in practicing are data privacy, antitrust, and consumer protection law, and at the EFF I got to do all those things!” When she wasn’t working this summer, Jess enjoyed attending family events and traveling to beach towns near San Francisco.