Taylor Schneider solidifies career plans after SEOLS Access to Justice Internship

Taylor Schneider's job at Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS) was talking to people whom she probably wouldn't have met as a student at Ohio University.

Her summer Access to Justice Internship turned out to be eye-opening as she plans for a career in law.

Her responsibilities with SEOLS included returning calls to clients who had reached out to the office for legal aid. She spoke with them about their living conditions, landlord issues, resources, and their overall feelings about their living situations. The evidence that she gathered was then given to the attorneys for use in the clients’ cases

"I was taken aback by the injustices in our community. Specifically, low-income and disabled individuals are exploited by their landlords, families, and neighbors just minutes from campus. Housing and tenant law may sound straightforward at face value. Still, just like any other area of the law, inequities are flooding," said Schneider, a communication studies major in the Honors Tutorial College with a political science minor and a Law, Justice & Culture Certificate from the College of Arts and Sciences.

"I was not expecting this internship to make me emotional. Still, I found myself reflecting on my privileges after every intake," said Schneider, who noted that the work done by SEOLS interns frees up the attorneys to take more cases or spend more time on cases that needed it. "Additionally, my work mattered to the clients. Often, these clients did not have family near them or people to talk to. I cannot count how many times a client became emotional and thanked me for taking the time to speak with them."

Schneider explained that this type of work or internship opportunity is far more than being a resume builder, "it is an opportunity to advocate for those in your community and contribute to mending systemic injustices."

While she still plans to be an attorney, Schneider's career vision was shaped by her summer experience.

"It is no secret that cooperate lawyers have a higher average income than public defenders or attorneys at pro-bono clinics. Choosing between security and what I am passionate about has been a tug of war for years. However, this internship solidified my decision. Regardless of the pay, I intend to work in a space where I advocate for minoritized communities because I have gotten a taste of the corruption that has infiltrated our justice system," she said.

“The Center for Law, Justice & Culture (CLJC) established the Access to Justice Internship in partnership with SEOLS in 2018,” said Larry Hayman, Esq., CLJC assistant director and pre-law advisor. “We wanted to work to close the access to justice gap in the Southeastern Ohio region, which has a tremendous demand for legal aid and is not served by a law school. We also wanted to provide a high-quality internship experience for students interested in law that would help them develop their interviewing and evidence-gathering skills while building a professional legal network. I am proud of the work that Taylor has done with SEOLS, and this experiential learning opportunity complements her curricular and co-curricular experiences and has prepared her well for what comes next.”

Students interested in the Access to Justice Internship should contact Hayman at hayman@ohio.edu.

Q&A with Taylor Schneider

Q: What is the hardest hill you've had to climb (not counting Jeff Hill) at OHIO? And how did you overcome challenges or obstacles in your path?

A: My biggest obstacle in college so far is being away from home. I am an out of state student from Tennessee, and I miss my parents and my dog often. I am working to overcome the homesickness by creating new friendships and joining organizations that welcome me as part of their family.

Q: Who have been your favorite professors and how have they made an impact on your life? 

A: My favorite professors are Dr. Roger Aden and Dr. Kirstine Taylor. Dr. Aden doubles as my advisor and tutorial leader. He has pushed me to try new things academically and challenged my ideas about the justice system. We have been studying jury deliberation together this semester, and I have gained a new insight on the inner workings of a jury trial and communication among jurors.

Dr. Taylor has impacted me similarly. In her class, we explored mass incarceration; my initial beliefs about the prison system were challenged, and I came to realize the numerous racial disparities in the system. I plan to use this knowledge to write my senior thesis. While I have not decided on a specific topic, I plan to include what I have learned about mass incarceration and jury deliberation as part of the overall theme.

Q: What are your favorite OHIO memories?

A: My favorite OHIO memories are with my Mock Trial Team. From jamming to music on the way to tournaments to celebrating a win, I have enjoyed being a part of the family.

Q: What’s the one thing you would tell a new OHIO student not to miss?

A: Do not miss out on opportunities to join organizations. Although adding things to your plate in the midst of being a full-time student can be overwhelming, I assure you it is worth it. You will remember the friendships and connections you make in organizations over what percentage you got in a class. While it is essential to find balance, I believe the best part of college is the memories you make with friends in orgs.