Prior to his internship with State Court Judge Jason Thompson, Richardson’s experience with the court system was limited to his service on jury duty. Through his internship, he learned about the day-to-day operations of state court and the interactions that office had with the solicitor and public defenders.   

Richardson’s intern responsibilities kept him focused on preparing orders for both civil and criminal cases. To successfully prepare these orders, he sat in on and listened to recorded hearings, performed legal research, and sought the input of the county staff attorney and Judge Thompson. Richardson also prepared memos on legal questions, including summarizing the effects of newly enacted Georgia legislation. He felt that this exposure to the courtroom and legal research and writing outside his legal studies was an important step in becoming a well-educated lawyer. 

When asked about his most noteworthy successes, Richardson stated that he was able to complete orders on a number of significant cases which helped to clear the court’s docket. However, he was most proud of the legal research that he provided on a case involving a challenge to the constitutionality of a Georgia statute which ultimately led the judge to go in a different direction than he was originally inclined.   

Richardson’s favorite part of the internship was the opportunity to observe a wide variety of court proceedings, many of which he was unfamiliar with prior to this experience. His observations not only taught Richardson about court procedure but it also taught him about courtroom strategy. From being able to see the behind-the-scenes deliberation process for the judge and his staff to learning how not to conduct yourself in court, the ability to observe provided him with a unique chance to see how to be an effective attorney when appearing in court. 

After graduating from law school, Richardson plans to work as an assistant district attorney. When asked about how his internship prepared him for future endeavors, he replied, "This internship has provided the real-life experience and exposure to the courtroom that I have needed to supplement my academic studies, and I think it will be invaluable moving forward in my career." 

For more information on the GCIP, please visit the ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation website at www.civicaffairs.org.