The second cohort of Duffy Fellows recently completed their public interest internships, gaining invaluable experience in various public defender offices, legal aid organizations, and government agencies. These internships, which add tremendously to the Fellows’ legal education, reflect the commitment of Temple Law School to fostering access to opportunity, hands-on practical experience, and a dedication to public service. 

Established by Tom Duffy ’81, founder of The Duffy Firm, the Duffy Fellowship was initially launched in 2012 at the Legal Clinic for the Disabled. Recognizing the importance of supporting future public interest lawyers, Duffy expanded the fellowship in 2023 through a generous gift to Temple Law. This expansion enables more students to pursue public interest work, reinforcing the law school’s mission to provide students with the tools they need to effect meaningful change in their communities. 

“It has always been my mission to help the disadvantaged in Philadelphia and the surrounding region, so it is truly an honor to see how many people benefit from the work of these important public service agencies,” Duffy said. “It is also a joy to see how these summer roles provide students with such a powerful professional experience. I am so proud of this partnership between The Duffy Firm and Temple Law.”

Carlene Buccino, 3L, spent her summer interning with the Federal Public Defender in Maryland, where she had the opportunity to represent clients facing serious federal charges. Reflecting on her experience, Buccino shared, “I grew up in Baltimore City and hope to return after I graduate, so this was a dream internship for me. The attorneys and staff in the office were wonderful.” Her work there included extensive research and writing, giving her insight into the differences between federal and state legal practices. 

Temple Law has long been committed to offering students robust experiential learning opportunities, and Buccino is no exception. Her journey includes internships at public defense offices and participation in the Defender Association of Philadelphia clinic, all of which have equipped her with the skills necessary to pursue a career in public defense. 

“Temple Law has a proud tradition of preparing students for public interest work, but for many students, financial barriers put this career path out of reach,” said Dean Rachel Rebouché. “We’re deeply grateful to Tom Duffy and the Duffy Firm for helping students to overcome those barriers as Duffy Fellows. I know their service will make us proud.” 

Assistant Dean Jim Walsh of the Office of Career Services praised the Duffy Fellows program, noting its impact on students and the broader Temple Law community. “Financial obstacles continue to create challenges for students pursuing a career in public interest law, but through Tom Duffy’s gift, we have been able to enhance our students’ legal education and support cohorts of 2L students over the last two years to gain meaningful practical experience that is the hallmark of a Temple Law legal education,” Walsh said. “Mr. Duffy’s work has created a proven model to help us continue to vault our students into careers of impact and substance.” 

Buccino’s internship provided her with the opportunity to represent clients in court, a milestone in her legal education. “This was the first time I got to represent clients myself and speak on the record in court,” she said. “I got two clients’ charges dismissed and they were released from jail, which was the best feeling ever.” 

Despite the rewarding nature of public interest work, Buccino acknowledges the role of financial considerations. “Public interest jobs are competitive,” she noted, “and at the same time, a 10-week unpaid internship is a financial challenge.” The Duffy Fellowship alleviated some of this burden, allowing Buccino to focus on her internship and spend quality time with family and friends in Baltimore. 

For many law students from low-income backgrounds, the pressure to pursue high-paying corporate jobs is significant. Drew Perkoski, another Duffy Fellow who spent his summer with Mobilization for Justice, echoed this sentiment: “Most law students from poor communities are pushed towards high-paying corporate jobs, as if the only reason we’re here is to get a leg up. The Duffy Fellowship let me spend my 2L summer working with low-income clients, like I came to law school to do.” 

“At Mobilization for Justice, I worked with individual tenants and tenant groups facing eviction,” Perkoski said. “These tenants lived in public housing, rent stabilized buildings, and assisted living facilities. Our work keeps people in communities they have spent decades in by keeping them in the affordable apartments they already live in.” 

Their experience underscores the importance of the Duffy Fellowship in sustaining public interest careers. 

“Funding like the Duffy Fellowship can help bridge the gap and proves that a public interest career is not only rewarding, but also financially possible,” Buccino said. 

The 2024 Duffy Fellows: