Author: Meredith Hemphill
Kaylee Market was in her final semester of law school at Campbell University. She had an interest in juvenile justice and had already completed an internship at the Office of the Juvenile Defender. So, one of her professors recommended she apply for an internship with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention division. Her application was accepted for the spring 2025 session.
“It was too much in line with what I was interested in to look anywhere else,” Market said. “Of course, I’m going to take it.”
The JJDP Internship Program offers three internship sessions throughout the year. Internships are available to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students to work alongside personnel in juvenile court services, detention centers and youth development centers.
Market interned with juvenile court services. She had the opportunity to see many aspects of what this section does. Her day-to-day tasks often involved information gathering and reviewing legislation. Other times, she joined JJDP staff on “adventures,” such as when she attended a teachers’ conference or went to speak at schools about the division’s Secure All Firearms Effectively campaign, or NC S.A.F.E.
“First and foremost, I really loved everyone I worked with,” Market said. “I have friends that are not so fortunate in places they have worked, but everyone around me was so welcoming and kind.”
Market enjoyed her internship so much that she decided to apply for a position with “See Resume,” JJDP after it ended. She was still in the midst of studying for the bar but didn’t want to let the opportunity slip by. She interviewed just a couple days after taking the bar exam. Market now works as assistant general counsel within the Office of the General Counsel. Also, she passed the bar.
“Working here was a bit unexpected,” Market said. “I always enjoyed the policy and legislative aspect of it, but if you asked me this time a year ago, I would have told you that I would be in a courtroom. And then from one steppingstone to another, I ended up here. I’m so happy everything worked out the way it did.”
Tameka Judd, program manager for talent engagement and internships, wholeheartedly recommends applying for an NCDPS internship to anyone who may be in the position that Market was in this time last year.
“NCDPS can provide a lot of different paths that you might not expect. There are so many different ways to find your place here," Judd said. "In addition to JJDP, students can intern with Alcohol Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, the North Carolina National Guard, and our administrative sections."
Students who wish to apply for an internship within JJDP must first contact the chief court counselor or center director of the district or center where they would like to intern. Visit the NCDPS website to learn more about internships with JJDP or other internship opportunities.