Jocelyn Murphy

You discovered your affinity for the law accidentally, right?

Yes, I originally wanted to be a news reporter. I attended a magnet high school that specialized in broadcast journalism and even entered college as a journalism major. However, I signed up for an internship program one summer and was unexpectedly placed at the Clark County Public Defender’s Office. It was my first real exposure to the legal profession. At the end of internship, I knew the legal field was where I belonged.  

As an undergrad, you joined the UNLV Mock Trial Team. How has that experience been useful to you in law school?

Extremely useful. It introduced me early on to many legal terms and courtroom jargon that I encountered during my first year. I would definitely say that it eased my vocabulary learning curve.

Looking back on it now, what was the most memorable moment of your first year at Boyd?

Participating as a divorce course instructor in the community service program. I think it’s great that the school requires all students to participate in the program. I enjoyed assisting attendees each week with their legal problems. The experience also opened my eyes to the larger community need for more lawyers to participate in pro bono work.

How was your summer?

My summer was incredible. I worked as a law clerk for the Federal Public Defender, District of Nevada in the capital habeas unit. The capital habeas unit is responsible for assisting state prisoners who have been sentenced to death with filing for federal relief. I had the opportunity to draft petition claims, observe court, and visit a state prison. Overall my experience was most valuable because of the incredible attorneys with whom I had the opportunity to work.