Andy Hess is a 3L at Lewis & Clark Law School. He took our Victims’ Rights Litigation Clinic in 2015 and returned as a legal intern in the Summer of 2016. Andy told us about himself.

What did you like most about working at NCVLI?
The people who make up NCVLI are the greatest strength of the organization. Everyone who works for NCVLI is so uniquely warm, compassionate and dedicated wholeheartedly to the cause of victims’ rights that the opportunity to work with them inspires me every day.

What will you take with you from your work with NCVLI?
The best habits developing in my practice I credit to my time at NCVLI, from developing creative, novel arguments with a painstaking attention to detail or engaging effectively with associates on challenging topics, NCVLI honed my legal work unlike any other placement.

If you could change one thing about the current victims’ rights environment, be it legal, political, public recognition, victim services, etc., what would it be?
The current victims’ rights environment requires much more awareness of the difficulties and disincentives for victims to come forward and engage in their search for justice. Almost all victims experience some form of secondary victimization in criminal and civil proceedings as they are forced to continually lay bare their life and repeatedly confront the original source of their victimization. Procedural safeguards for victim privacy like rape shield are helpful but are constantly under fire and often circumvented by a content obsessed culture. Thus every state needs some sort of constitutional amendment recognizing and providing for victims’ rights and we all need to support pioneering organizations such as NCVLI in raising awareness and changing the culture around this all too often overlooked aspect of our justice system.

What is your school, year, course of study?
I’m a 3L at Lewis & Clark Law School working towards a certificate in intellectual property.

What are your hobbies/what do you do for fun?
I enjoy playing, watching, and obsessing over basketball as an unapologetic Orlando Magic fan. I also love music and dabble in its production, performance, and publishing from time to time.

What’s next after NCVLI?
I will be interning at Oregon Public Broadcasting, another outstanding nonprofit organization dedicated to the public good, and continue to bring attention to and raise awareness of victims’ rights! I hope to carry on working in the public interest for disadvantaged and underrepresented populations while espousing the virtues and ethics instilled in me from my time at NCVLI.