08/19/2026
We had a stellar law clerk and fantastic college intern at the Pels Law Firm this summer!
Our law clerk Jacqueline ("Lien") Duke, a rising second year law student at Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, had the following to say about her experience at the firm:
"Yesterday marked my last day as a Summer Law Clerk at The Pels Law Firm. I am so grateful for all the experiences that this summer brought me, which have strengthened my legal writing and analytical skills. This summer, I had the opportunity to sit in on mediations, depositions, and deposition prep sessions. I also took part in drafting position statements for Maryland's MCCR and EEOC, memos regarding corporate structure and HOA advice, and a variety of demand and settlement communications. A large part of my summer experience was spent gathering and organizing information for a mass torts case - veterans' claims regarding their exposure to toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune Base in North Carolina.
The most valuable experience I had this summer was learning the practical skills of being an attorney - how to bill my time, file motions in the court, and draft retainers and conflict waivers.
This summer gave me experience in many new areas of law, and it has been invaluable to my growth as a young lawyer. I am so appreciative of Jon D. Pels, Nina Basu, Jesus Zelaya, Maria Olsen, and all the attorneys at Pels for providing me with these learning opportunities.
I will miss working alongside Ophelia DeStefano and Clare Porto in the epic intern office with great windows.
Thank you, Pels Law, for the great summer!"
This is what our intern Clare Porto, who is entering her third year at Colgate University with a major in Political Science and History, wrote about her experience:
"This past week I wrapped up my legal internship at The Pels Law Firm. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the legal field.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to take part in the drafting of demand letters and settlement communications, proofread and compile exhibits for motions and verified complaints, file client documents, and sit in on mediations and depositions. I also spent a large portion of my time gathering and organizing information to support a mass torts claim involving veterans’ claims related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune Base in North Carolina.
I would like to give a special thank you to Nina Basu for taking me under her wing and sharing so much invaluable knowledge with me. I also want to thank Jon Pels and Maria Leonard Olsen for their mentorship and trust. And finally, thank you to Ophelia DeStefano and Jacqueline Duke for your help and cheerful company this summer in the office."
Both of these women have bright futures ahead and we were fortunate to have them at the firm. We look forward to following their chosen endeavors. Perhaps they will choose a career at our firm. We know they will both have many attractive offers.
*Photo taken by Jon at the firm's farewell happy hour for Lien and Clare in Bethesda. Lien is on the bottom left side of the photo and Clare is next to her.
