When I decided to go to law school, I knew I wanted to focus on supporting the arts and find joy in my work. DePaul University College of Law turned out to be the perfect place to explore this passion, offering a range of internships in art, museum, and cultural heritage law. Over the summers between my second and third years, I had the chance to intern with two amazing national arts organizations, diving into the world where law and the arts intersect.
My first internship was with the president of the Chicago History Museum. He had joined the museum from a major law firm and was all about empowering his team, including me. His trust in me to take on tasks usually performed by the general counsel really boosted my confidence. I got involved in everything from licensing and copyright issues to navigating fundraising rules and tax implications. I had the opportunity to explore the collections and see exhibits go up. By the end of the summer, I knew I had found my people and my calling. I came back to law school truly energized about my future.
The following summer, I interned at the General Counsel’s office of the National Endowment for the Arts. This role presented another opportunity to take a deep dive into a leadership role, primarily managing licensing and grant awarding legal matters as well as drafting legislation. I returned to my final year of law school with a clearer understanding of how legal statutes and authority interact in the arts world.
These incredible experiences inspired me to team up with a classmate and start the Art & Cultural Heritage Law Society (ACHLS) at DePaul University College of Law, which I am proud to say is still serving students today. In creating the society, we wanted to connect law students with professionals in the arts sector and create opportunities for mentorship. We also set up a scholarship program to tackle the issue of unpaid legal internships in the arts, making sure students had access to funding that allowed them to gain valuable legal experience without financial stress.
Looking back at these intern experiences during my summers between law school and the legacy of ACHLS, I’m reminded that when you follow your interests and don’t settle for anything less than joy in your work, transformative opportunities to lead, stretch, and grow will come your way.
