Arnold S. Bituin
MidPenn Legal Services
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

THINGS I LEARNED AT MIDPENN

With four different attorneys doing many different things, it became very apparent that there is no shortage of work at MidPenn Legal Services in Harrisburg.  Working at MidPenn exposed me to many different areas of the law such as mortgage foreclosures, subsidized housing, labor and family law.  I also got a chance to observe and participate in court proceedings.  However, there were other invaluable things that I learned during my stint as a summer intern.  Some of them had nothing to do with substantive areas of the law.  Here are some of the more memorable ones:

How to pronounce prothonotary 

It’s not protho-notary.  It’s prothunahtaree.  Say it fast.

Do not forget what you learn from the previous summer

As an intern for Harry Geller at PULP last summer, I had to deal with various aspects of public utility law.  This summer, I had three clients with utility issues.  Patrick Cicero assigned those cases to me because I am, as he called me, “Señor Utility.”

Read carefully, never assume

While Nick Matash and I were waiting for our turn to be called for a hearing, someone waiting with us (presumably a lawyer), suddenly gasps and realized that he was in the wrong building.  He had assumed that his hearing was in that building because “that’s where it had always been held.”

Be prepared for surprises

No matter how carefully you prepare your witness, they will say things during the hearing that will take your breath away.  Show your best face and pretend that it does not matter.

Acronyms

PFA, UC, ROA (which you can get in the prothonotary’s office), IFP, TANF, MA, SSDI, SSP, ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP….

Being a Certified Legal Intern pays dividends

One morning for a custody hearing, the main entrance to the courthouse was packed with people trying to get in through security.  Peg Simok and I went through the backdoor.  She showed her bar ID card to the Sheriff.  I showed a piece of paper from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (and signed by the Deputy Prothonotary, no less) that says who I was.  It was like having a backstage pass to a concert.

Laughter goes a long way

After an interview with a client which turned on some emotional issues, Steve Krone noticed that the client was still depressed.  Asking her to cheer up, Steve threatened to “tell a corny joke.”  She immediately smiled.

While the “lessons” listed above are arguably useful, I learned other things this summer that are a reflection of the attitude among the attorneys here.  I learned that our job as lawyers goes beyond analyzing the issues or applying the facts to the law.  For example, showing compassion to our indigent clients is a vital part of our work. 

Through numerous client interviews that I observed, I found out that our clients have other problems that are connected to the immediate legal issue.  Their mortgage foreclosure issue could be compounded by their joblessness, disability, divorce, or other things. 

As I began to talk to clients I learned that it is important to listen to them, even if it is not relevant to the case at hand.  Sometimes they just need someone to hear what they have to say. 

I also learned that while an attorney’s job is to counsel with regard to the law, sometimes it is necessary to counsel our clients with regard to other things such as finances, emotional problems, or how to deal with life in general.  In addition to legal advice we provide information about local food banks, shelters, or other agencies.  Our clients’ needs are broad-based.  Our office is a de facto social agency that should be able to give advice and direct people to getting the help they need.