Christine O ' rourke（15届）加入费城辩护人协会

校友发现成功的助理公设辩护人继在波士顿大学法律的刑法诊所的经验。

With an interest in politics and the law, Christine O’Rourke (’15) set out to pursue political science as a major at Loyola Marymount University. 她的本科毕业论文是澳门威尼斯人注册错判和法医学的，为了完成她的澳门威尼斯人注册网站研究，她采访了公设辩护人、检察官和科学家。 After finishing her thesis, O’Rourke was hooked.

Now an assistant public defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, O’Rourke credits 波士顿大学法学院, and especially the 刑法诊所 with preparing her for her current role. 在她的职位上，她负责代表在费城被指控犯罪的得不到充分服务的人。 “Although it was an adjustment to learn a new system of laws in Pennsylvania, I had a solid foundation, and understood what it meant to be a public defender even before starting,” she states. “In addition, the clinic really taught me the importance of managing the actual case file, which has been an extremely useful skill.” 自从担任这一职位以来，她已经主持了六次审判和大约40次初步听证会。

In high school, O’Rourke competed on the moot court team, and her decision to attend BU Law was due in part to its 1L moot court requirement as well as the quality of its faculty. “I loved that we had a moot court 1L requirement because I knew I wanted a job that involved a great deal of public speaking and I had enjoyed mock trial in high school,” she says. “BU Law also had some of the best faculty in the country and throughout my time at BU I have been so impressed with the caliber of the 箴fessors.”

While in law school, O’Rourke participated on and coached mock trial teams, went on a spring break 箴 波诺 trip to Kansas City where she represented individuals on death row, and worked on the 波士顿大学法律评论. 她在大二春季学期加入了刑法诊所，一直到毕业。 她的日常职责多种多样，从撰写法律动议到进行调查和采访客户。 “Through the clinic I was able to represent criminal defendants and dedicate the time and effort to the cases that these clients often do not get. I am so happy I chose to do it,” she says. In her 3L year she received a 优秀临床学生临床法律教育奖, an honor given annually to one student who demonstrates excellence in both the fieldwork and seminar component of a clinical course, and who makes an outstanding contribution to the clinical community at the 法学院.

O’Rourke has clinic supervisor and Clinical Associate Professor 温迪·卡普兰 to credit for guiding her through the ins and outs of the Boston Municipal Court. 然而，她在诊所里最重要的工作是确保地区检察官和法官不只是把她的客户看成一个数字。 “I consider that my most serious responsibility,” she says.

虽然她在诊所获得了宝贵的实践经验，但她也珍惜与其他诊所参与者的友情。 “Being a criminal defense attorney requires redefining what it means to win and I really liked that I always had someone to call if I was having a bad day or someone there to celebrate the win,” she says. 在诊所之外，奥罗克发现波士顿大学法律界特别特别。 “I loved my fellow students at BU Law, she says. My friends were incredibly supportive of my desire to pursue a career in public interest and I don’t think that commitment to public interest exists to the same extent at other top law schools.”

作为一名助理公设辩护律师，她面临的最大挑战是面对那些不愿站在她的客户一边的法官，但她工作中最有价值的部分是能够帮助别人。 “I absolutely love fighting for the underdog and often our clients have no one fighting for them except us,” says O’Rourke. “It is a huge burden, but it is also exhilarating and inspiring to advocate on behalf of individuals whose rights are consistently being violated and who need someone to stand up against government power.”

Reported by Erin Phelps (Questrom’16).