Peyton Howe

The Hon. Brett Sell, Administrative Judge – U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

How did you get your job?

I applied for the job via CORE. It was a super simple application process, and Ms. Veronica Elizalde was very helpful in reviewing my cover letter before I applied.

What was the most surprising thing you learned at your job? 

I was surprised to see how simple the drafting process can be for the various orders. Many of the cases I worked on and drafted documents for had similar claims, so I was able to recycle terminology and strong points that had been made in other drafts.

What do/did you like most about your job?

What I like the most about my internship is that I am given the same tasks as a judicial clerk. In my first week, I was given the opportunity to read through important documents, take notes and draft a Decision and Order. Additionally, I like how instructive Judge Sell has been. Often, he will call me to discuss a case, walk me through an analysis or to debrief after an Initial Conference with the parties. This has enabled me to see a judge’s thought process.

How do you think this experience has helped you in your career path?

This experience has assisted me in further developing my legal writing and analysis skills. Additionally, I got to experience the “behind the scenes” of a judge’s thought process and how they handle all the cases on their docket. Moreover, I learned to become much more concise and focus on the important arguments that need to be made.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at this job?

The most valuable thing I have learned is how incredibly important professionalism and preparation are in a career in law. I have witnessed how a lack of professional courtesy or under-preparation can harm your client’s case and your reputation.

Did your job change in a virtual workplace?  How did you interact with your co-workers?

My job significantly stayed the same in the virtual workplace. The EEOC utilized Microsoft Teams, which kept everyone in the office connected. I was still able to contact the Hon. Sell and my co-workers easily. To stay in contact with the other interns, I created a Teams chat to ask each other for help.