Two years ago when FIU Law alumna Nina Smith ’14 was still in law school she heard that tribal courts would be authorized to assert criminal jurisdiction in certain domestic violence cases. This development piqued her interest and that semester she took American Indian law. “I took the course hoping to find out more about the law; I learned so much and loved how broad and unique the field is,” Smith shared.
Ever since then, she’s been waiting for the opportunity to work with Indian Law. When the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs fellowship position opened up she, “jumped at the chance!”
It was her education at FIU Law that helped prepare her for the fellowship. “The three Legal Skills and Values courses I took provided me with a really good foundation for researching efficiently and writing thoughtfully, and my experience in the Small Business Clinic led me to develop a greater sense of professionalism. Now that I’m working in this position, I have a much greater appreciation for the classes I had the opportunity to take – not just American Indian law, but also administrative, environmental and ocean law,” she explained.
As a Legal Fellow, Smith will spend her days researching and uncovering facts. She will craft memos about matters affecting Indian tribes, and will go to briefings and hearings on the subject. What she is most looking forward to is helping to make a difference. “I also have the opportunity to help develop policy and work on legislation, and I’m really fortunate to be given a lot of freedom to work on issues that are of particular interest to me,” she continued.
While working in D.C., Smith reflects on her time in Miami and values the experiences she had during her three years here. “I was around some really smart people who were interested in a lot of the same things I was, and I was awed and humbled every single day. Largely thanks to them – my classmates and professors – I finished law school a much different person than I was when I began.”