Connor Cox ’23 came to Northeastern Law armed with an undergraduate degree in political science and an interest in public policy. His co-ops and courses allowed him to explore that interest across all three branches of government: at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and finally in the office of Massachusetts State Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem.

“It’s been a full-circle experience that I’ve really enjoyed,” Cox says. “Each experience allowed me to build on the previous one. First, I worked with a judge, seeing how the courts analyze what laws mean and how they apply to different factual situations. And then, on an externship secured through the law school’s Public Service Externship Course, I worked for the AG’s office looking at how laws are enforced. In the legislature, I’m seeing how laws are made and what considerations and different interests are at play in the making of those laws.”

In Senator Creem’s office, Cox has been doing legal and policy research on bills the senator may want to file, issues raised by different advocacy groups or to support Senator Creem’s work as chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. “So much of my job is, ‘Hey, Connor, here’s this legal question or policy issue. Can you dive into it and write up what you find?’” he explains. “I’ve learned so much and sharpened my research and writing skills.” A week past graduation, Cox was still at the Statehouse, helping the staff get through the Senate budget process. “My co-op here has been amazing, not only because of the work I’ve been able to do, but also because the people have been incredible. They’ve made me feel like such a part of the team.”

—Maura King Scully

“I chose this co-op because I wanted to learn more about how prosecutorial discretion can be used for positive change. I also wanted in-court experience. I’ve had so many opportunities to practice speaking before a judge and making substantive legal arguments. I’ve managed my own caseload, run a session myself, argued four motions to suppress, and I went to trial for the first time. This is invaluable preparation for my pos-tgrad job as an assistant district attorney with the Brooklyn DA’s office.”

—Sree Kotipalli ’23

“My first co-op, which was with Converse, sparked an interest in working in sports. I chose the Arizona Diamondbacks for my next co-op, which has been an incredible opportunity to understand the in-house legal role with a Major League Baseball team. I’ve seen how a small team of attorneys can have such an outsized impact by cultivating trust in an organization. With trust comes more openness, more proactivity and more productivity. It’s really impressive to see the attorneys handle so much.”

—Sami Habel ’24