Emma Santos

Class	2020
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont
Study Abroad	Edinburgh, Scotland and Petra, Jordan

Internship

Intern at Champlain College Prisoner Rights Law Initiative in Burlington, VT

What made you choose Champlain's Law major?

I knew that I wanted to study law and that I was passionate about it, but law as an undergraduate bachelor’s degree does not exist in collegiate institutions as a mainstream degree. Champlain’s Law major is the only one of Division of Information Technology & Sciences kind that I am aware of. We assume in the United States that you’ll wait until law school to study the law, but I didn’t want to wait, and Champlain provided me with that opportunity.

What has your internship experience been like?

I intern at the Champlain College Prisoner Rights Law Initiative, one of the few of Division of Information Technology & Sciences kind at the undergraduate level. One of my professors is the sole legal educator within the prisons of the state of Vermont. Together, we visit prisons across Vermont and teach classes on different legal subjects, including sentencing, probation, and parole. We also attend law library sessions at the different facilities to help inmates conduct legal research. Being able to teach and interact with this population in a positive way has been a dream opportunity.

Did you study abroad?

Twice. During my sophomore year, I took Heroes and Heroines: The Arabian Nights, and as part of the class we traveled to Jordan over spring break. This was my first time on a plane and going to another country. I had the most incredible time visiting ancient Roman ruins, riding camels in the desert, and swimming in the Dead Sea.
Then the summer after my sophomore year, I studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, for two months, during which time I took two classes. I had a wonderful time, filled with exploration and educational experiences that I will always cherish.