Human Rights Program Alum Describes Work at Federal Defenders’ Office

Rob LaRose (MAPHR ’17) is working as an assistant paralegal in the trial unit of the Federal Defender Program, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia. When he began in September, he expected it to be primarily a desk job. In actuality, his deskwork reviewing discovery materials and documents is just the beginning. The Federal Defender Program adheres to an inclusive approach to its work, so all staff members are encouraged to contribute meaningfully to cases in a variety of ways. Among other activities, Rob has had the opportunity to interact directly with clients, attend meetings at the U.S. attorney’s office, construct important documents to be used in court, and sit alongside the defense counsel during court proceedings.

Rob believes his work is intrinsically tied to the human rights discourse he encountered while a Human Rights Scholar. “At the most basic level, the very idea of a public defender’s office can be seen (at least in part) as a human rights success through its guarantee of the right to counsel,” he argued, adding, “While the criminal justice system, in its current state, is certainly flawed and fraught with problems, it’s almost impossible to imagine how it would exist or function without the language and framework of human rights.”

A key aspect of Rob’s experience at the Federal Defender Program has been learning to maintain humility and perspective while working with clients. “When involved in criminal defense legal work,” Rob said, “it’s fairly easy to become so absorbed in a case or client that you develop a strong idea of what you think is best for the client,” an idea that does not always align with the clients’ wishes. “I’ve had to learn very quickly that it’s often less about using talents, tools, and skills to advocate on behalf of a client, and more so about humbling oneself in order to serve as a pedestal and microphone through which a client can be heard and respected,” said Rob.

Rob’s work can be challenging; it is common, he said, to feel outraged or disheartened by the field of public defense. However, he emphasized that such reactions can be channeled toward a positive outcome for a client. In addition, there are moments in his work that bring incredible joy. “When a case has a positive outcome or when a judge provides a favorable ruling or even when a client is able to leave a meeting with some semblance of calmness or peace of mind,” Rob explained, “those are the moments when I feel proudest.”