Reilly Lustina

Major: Law & Society
Minor: Spanish for the Professions

Legal Intern at Lake County Government Center

How did you learn about this internship opportunity?

My grandfather was a criminal defense attorney, but he passed away about 14 years ago. I knew he worked with Judge Cantrell back when she was a young attorney. I reached out to Judge Cantrell and asked if she would give me the honor of learning from her, and she said "yes!"

What is a piece of advice you would give someone in your major looking for an internship?

Use any and all connections you have. Being kind and outgoing will get you far.

What key responsibilities or projects have you taken on during your internship?

In the office, my tasks included assembling court calls, answering phones, organizing files, checking in defendants, observing court, and aiding the probation officers.

How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals? How did being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue apply to your internship?

This internship has multiplied my motivation and desire to become an attorney. Being present in the courtroom, surrounded by several talented attorneys and Judge Cantrell was truly a feeling like no other. As a Liberal Arts student at Purdue, I take very interesting classes in which my professors feel that same passion about the subjects they teach- it is such a privilege to learn from such intelligent personnel.

In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participation in our Job-Ready program specifically aided your professional development?

Being a CLA student has only made my incredibly hectic, busy, challenging schedule and duties as a college student feel easier. I feel incredibly supported each and every day. I really feel as though the faculty really wants me to succeed. The Job-Ready program allowed for me to afford going to-and-from my internship everyday without losing any resources. I truthfully would not have been successful this summer without the Job-Ready program.

Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in the Job-Ready program that you find particularly noteworthy?

At my internship in the courtroom, I noticed something that made me extremely sad. I started to recognize people who were walking into the courtroom, not because I knew them, but because they had to return to court. Some people are stuck in a cycle that they cannot pull themselves out of; they have run out of resources and they feel they have no other choice but to break the law. This realization ignited a fire in me; I want to be the criminal defense attorney that helps my clients break out of this insanely destructive cycle. I want to help them build a better life for themselves and their families.