Miami Law students Sara White and Daniel Diez spent their summer drafting bench memorandums, proposing orders on motions to dismiss involving the independent tort doctrine, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment; and conducted legal research to support law clerks on active cases and trials in the chambers of the Honorable Judge Beth Bloom, J.D. ’88, as Federal Judicial Interns at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The students were part of the expanded Miami Law Externship Program, directed by Jessi Tamayo, which allows students to obtain academic credit while working in a real-world legal setting during both the academic year and over the summer. The program offers national and international opportunities with corporations, government agencies, public interest organizations, and the judiciary.
“Judge Bloom has undoubtedly created a program that is unique in both its content and its format,” said Tamayo. “Her commitment to bringing students into the court and chambers in a transparent and authentic way has deeply impacted many of our externs and given them the opportunity to further refine their career interests and aspirations.”
First-Hand Experience with Judicial Advocacy
Deiz was originally drawn to the opportunity because it would allow him to stay in his hometown over the summer. “I also wanted to give back to the community that raised me and support my professional goals of pursuing a career in litigation and public service. I knew working in a federal judge’s chambers would be the ideal experience that would allow me to improve my writing, research, and litigation skills.”
He said that speaking with School of Law 2Ls and 3Ls, he learned how valuable a judicial externship can be. “Hearing their stories about how much they learned and how they built a little family with other interns and staff in their judge’s chambers really motivated me to pursue this opportunity. Overall, I wanted to learn from and be surrounded by judges, law clerks, and attorneys who choose to use their legal expertise to serve the public. I wanted to apply my skills to judicial advocacy and continue to enhance my writing and advocacy skills while contributing to cases that impact our community. This opportunity aligned with my passion for legal writing and interest in court proceedings,” he said.
Exposure to Civil and Criminal Law
White said that as a first-generation law student, she was eager to observe and learn as much as she could about as many different practice areas as possible. “The opportunity to work in chambers allowed me to observe and work on both criminal and civil law matters. This experience not only allowed me to improve my legal research and writing skills but also aligned with my personal career goals of public service and litigation. I had also heard from other Miami Law students, faculty, and alumni that Judge Bloom and her team were known for being incredibly hardworking, kind, and precise, and I knew I wanted to be a part of a similar working environment,” she said.
As two of the six summer interns in Judge Bloom’s chambers during the summer of 2025, their duties consisted of writing bench memorandums, drafting court orders, researching and summarizing applicable case law, observing court proceedings, introducing guest speakers and moderating questions, and visiting various federal buildings. They said a highlight of their experience was visiting and learning about the FBI building in Miramar, the U.S. Marshals Office, and the Federal Detention Center in Miami.
Observing Federal and State Court Proceedings
The most rewarding part of their experience was observing a variety of court proceedings in federal and state courts. “From motion calendars and plea changes to criminal sentencings and trials, we were able to closely observe public and private attorneys formulate arguments in court. Observing Judge Bloom’s and her law clerks’ approach to managing cases, interpreting statutes, and applying precedent was extremely valuable,” they wrote in an email.
As Judge Bloom had three trials over the summer–two criminal and one civil–the students had the opportunity to assist in researching case law and preparing responses to motions in limine, observing live opening and closing statements, direct and cross examinations, and finally discussing their notes, questions, and takeaways from their observations with Judge Bloom and her clerks.
“Working in Judge Bloom’s chambers allowed us to improve our legal writing and analytical skills while gaining exposure to court proceedings,” they wrote. “These experiences will help us become diligent litigators in the future. This experience also helped us to grow our confidence in a courtroom environment. We learned so much from the Judge and the other interns, clerks, and team members, and look forward to staying connected with all of them. Judge Bloom has become a great mentor to both of us, and we look forward to staying connected with her and her team for the rest of our careers. “
Diez secured his externship through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and career advisors from the University of Miami School of Law referred White to Judge Bloom. “I knew that Judge Bloom was very committed to supporting the Miami Law community through her involvement as a judicial director of the Miami Law Alumni Association.”
White introduced herself to Judge Bloom at the Miami Law Morning Spirits Homecoming Breakfast, and “after a great short conversation, I knew I wanted to apply to work with her,” she said. “After first seeing her preside over the Gaubatz Final Round the week before Morning Spirits, I was impressed by her thoughtful questions and kind character. I knew Judge Bloom had a stellar reputation in the Miami Law community and was thrilled the alumni event brought us together.”
Diez aspires to become a litigation attorney in Miami, and White is looking forward to joining Jackson Lewis P.C. as a summer associate in their Miami office. In her future, she is looking forward to delving into labor and employment law and continuing to improve her legal research and writing skills.
Read more about Miami Law’s externship programs.
