Interviews with 2024 Rural Practice Internship Grant Recipients

Olivia Perez

Olivia Perez is currently a third-year law student at Gonzaga University School of Law. A first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrant farmworkers from Bridgeport, Perez has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service from a young age. Her passion for public defense was ignited during her undergraduate studies at the University of Washington. Perez pursued law school to further her dedication to serving the community. Throughout her legal education, Perez has gained valuable experience working with the Spokane County Public Defenders, the Franklin County Office of Public Defense, and assisting with CJA appeal cases. Her favorite law school experiences have been arguing in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals supervised by her criminal law professor and working in her school’s immigration clinic. 

Q. You were awarded a rural practice summer internship grant in 2024. What kind of work did you do during your summer internship?

The Rural Practice Summer Internship Grant allowed me to serve as a Rule 9 intern at the Franklin County Office of Public Defense. During this internship, I had the opportunity to assist attorneys with legal motions and research. I also engaged directly with clients, discussing their cases and offering support. One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was making court appearances. 

Q. Where was your internship located?

My internship was with the Franklin County Office of Public Defense, located in Pasco.

Q. What motivated you to pursue this particular internship?

I decided to intern at the Franklin County Office of Public Defense because I wanted to work in a diverse county, one that serves a large number of Spanish-speaking defendants. This experience gave me the chance to not only follow my passion for public defense but also, to connect with and support individuals in a community that means a lot to me.

Q. How did the grant money help you? 

The grant money was incredibly helpful in covering my living expenses during the internship. Since I had to maintain housing in both Spokane and Kennewick, it allowed me to manage the added financial strain of paying double rent while focusing on my work at the Franklin County Office of Public Defense.

Q. How did your internship help you grow as a law student and future legal practitioner?

This internship deepened my commitment to public defense and played a significant role in my growth as both a law student and an aspiring legal practitioner. Although I’ve always known that public defense was the right path for me, this experience made me realize how much my skills are needed in rural communities, particularly where there is a shortage of Spanish-speaking attorneys. It also gave me a clear sense of direction for my future and confirmed where I want to start my legal career after law school.

Q. Did the experience make you more or less likely to practice in a rural community after graduation?

My internship increased my desire to practice in a rural community after graduation. Through my time in Franklin County, I saw firsthand the pressing need for Spanish-speaking public defenders in the Tri-Cities. I am now even more determined to return to the Tri-Cities and continue providing support to all those in need.

Q. Where are you from originally, and where do you plan to practice after graduating from law school? 

I was raised in Bridgeport, a small agricultural town in the heart of North Central Washington. With a population just over 2,000, my ties to rural Washington have been a defining aspect of my life. After law school, I aspire to practice public defense in a rural county that serves a significant population of farmworkers and immigrant criminal defendants.

Q. What interests you about practicing law in a rural community? 

My interest in practicing in a rural county comes from my upbringing in a rural area. Bridgeport and the surrounding region are severely lacking in resources, and having witnessed firsthand the challenges of living in a legal “desert,” I feel a deep commitment to serving such communities. As the child of Mexican Spanish-speaking farmworker parents, I feel a personal responsibility to support fellow Latino/a farmworkers within the criminal justice system. The gratitude and support I receive from clients who are thankful to have a Spanish-speaking attorney is incredibly fulfilling and only strengthens my dedication to serving rural farmworkers.

Q. What are some of the challenges you foresee of practicing law in a rural community? 

One of the challenges I anticipate when practicing law in a rural community is assisting clients who miss court appearances due to a lack of access to transportation. Many clients live miles away from the courthouse, and the absence of reliable public transportation in rural areas can make it difficult for them to attend appointments or court hearings. Additionally, securing diversion treatment for clients is challenging, as treatment centers in Washington are limited and often located far from rural areas.

Q. What would you say to other law school students or graduates who are on the fence about moving to and working in a rural part of Washington?

One piece of advice I would offer to law students is to weigh the benefits of the cost of living in rural areas compared to the available salaries. Living in a rural community is typically more affordable than living in a large city, and rural areas offer a peaceful and beautiful environment.

Most importantly, I would emphasize how rewarding it is to work in a small rural county. While criminal law can often be divisive and adversarial, in a small county relationships with prosecutors are more collaborative and reasonable. During my time in Franklin County, I have felt welcomed, supported, and uplifted by defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, jail staff, clerks, and many others. I truly feel appreciated and needed. What’s most fulfilling, however, is the impact of filling a crucial role in a community with a significant need. Knowing that I am making a lasting, positive difference makes the challenges of working in a rural county incredibly worthwhile.

Shaw Lowry

Shaw Lowry is currently a third-year law student at Gonzaga University School of Law, where he serves as Gonzaga Law Review’s technical editor. Before law school, Lowry lived in Bellingham, where he enjoyed regular visits to Mt. Baker, and worked as a paralegal at the Skagit County Public Defender’s Office, assisting primarily in dependency and juvenile cases. After completing the bar exam, Lowry intends to begin his career as a public defender. Outside of the law, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and their dog Koda, sarcasm, skiing, hiking, paddleboarding, and cooking (sometimes).  

Q. You were awarded a rural practice summer internship grant in 2024. What kind of work did you do during your summer internship?

I was a Rule 9 intern at the Benton County Office of Public Defense. My primary duties involved managing District Court cases at all phases, including drafting and arguing motions and briefs, visiting clients on a daily basis to prepare for proceedings or review discovery, and conducting first appearances in superior court. 

Q. Where was your internship located?

The office is located in Kennewick. 

Q. What motivated you to pursue this particular internship?

I came to law school with the intention of practicing criminal law in some capacity, as either a public defender or a prosecutor. As I finished my interviews for 2L summer work, I kept thinking about how well the interview I had with the Benton OPD manager, Charlie Dow, went. We had a lot in common, similar senses of humor, and cared about the same kind of work, so it just made sense. I was lucky enough to receive a summer job offer from him. I had never spent much time in the Tri-Cities so it was a win-win opportunity to discover a new place while gaining valuable experience. 

Q. How did the grant money help you? 

Trying to find a temporary living arrangement for 12 weeks of work can be a difficult task. My original plan was to try to move all my possessions from Spokane, but as the school year ended and my start date grew near, I realized ending my lease in Spokane to find a new spot in Kennewick for a few months wasn’t a feasible option. The grant money was instrumental in helping me confirm a short-term rental for the summer. 

Q. How did your internship help you grow as a law student and future legal practitioner?

As many legal professionals know, hands-on experience can be tricky to come by while in law school. Hands-on experience was plentiful throughout last summer. My internship provided me the opportunity to meet with my clients, to understand the legal issues they were facing, and to speak at length with colleagues for advice and mentorship. In many situations, these opportunities helped me place my clients in a better position. It was incredibly rewarding to help individuals with real life situations after being in a classroom for the last couple years. 

Q. Did the experience make you more or less likely to practice in a rural community after graduation?

Decidedly more likely. I’ve been fortunate enough to gain career experience in large cities and small counties across Washington, but I can’t be too far from outdoor activity. Last summer was a nice reminder of this fact. During my weekends, I spent time floating out on the Snake River. I was reminded that as much as I love a day in the city, the ability to drive 20 minutes to a hike, river, or lake is something I can’t forego.

Q. Where are you from originally, and where do you plan to practice after graduating from law school? 

I’m originally from the outskirts of Snohomish, which I suppose isn’t as rural as it used to be, but still just as beautiful. I am currently looking in central Washington for work, around the Wenatchee area. 

Q. What interests you about practicing law in a rural community? 

I like making friends at my places of work, as many do. It just helps so much to have a collegial workspace where the topics of conversation can change from work to hobby, to weekend plans, to life’s big questions on a day-to-day basis. I think practicing in a rural community really lends itself to growing close to those you share a career path with, which to me is invaluable. 

Q. What are some of the challenges you foresee of practicing law in a rural community? 

I suppose the flip side of the coin is also social. Reputation is everything in any legal or legal-adjacent work. Where there are fewer individuals working in a specific field, it is entirely possible that I will need to put in the extra legwork to stop bridges from being burned based on personality differences or disagreements. 

Q. What would you say to other law school students or graduates who are on the fence about moving to and working in a rural part of Washington?

It goes without saying, but don’t knock it till you try it. There will of course be different positives and drawbacks for everyone, but rural Washington has so much to offer anyone who wants to discover it. Especially if you’re the outdoorsy type, in which case the decision will eventually make itself, in my opinion.