How an Alumni-Funded Internship Paved Cayla’s Path to Law

Cayla Brown: An Alumni-Funded Internship Paved My Path to Law

“Because of the Bruce-Griffey Fund, I didn’t have to work three jobs that summer to cover my expenses. I could give my all to the internship—going to courtrooms, visiting clients, and learning about the criminal justice system first-hand.”

From a Summer Intern to a Rising Lawyer

When Cayla Brown thinks back on her years at Tufts University, one summer stands out. It was not a vacation or a student club. It was an unpaid internship with the Youth Advocacy Division of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Service (CPCS), where she advocated for children and adolescents through the legal system. This unique experience helped her understand how she could use a law degree to make a difference. And it was made possible by Tufts alumni through the Bruce-Griffey Leadership and Diversity Internship Fund.

Finding Tufts and a Sense of Belonging

Growing up in a low-income community in Texas didn’t stop Cayla from pursuing higher education. Through College Forward, a college access program, she was paired with a mentor—serendipitously, a Tufts alum—who saw her potential and encouraged her to reach for a school she hadn’t even imagined was possible. 

Cayla was admitted to the Voices of Tufts program and stepped onto campus for the first time in her senior year of high school. “When I visited Tufts, I really just fell in love with the campus and all of the people there,” Cayla remembers. “In Cohen Auditorium, we saw performances from diverse groups of students.” From step teams and dance troupes to a cappella groups, Cayla was impressed with the different cultural representations. “I felt like I could really have a space here.”

Majoring in International Relations

Beyond that emotional spark, she loved the tight-knit community at Tufts and the strong International Relations program. Growing up in a multicultural family, Cayla had always been curious about the world. Since high school, she had aspired to work in the United Nations (UN). 

“I used to go to the UN website and read the staff members’ bios, thinking, ‘that could be me one day.‘ The idea of trying to make the world better for less fortunate people is what drew me to international relations.”

During her time at Tufts, Cayla enjoyed courses that linked global theory to the headlines of the day, and eight semesters of Arabic gave her both language skills and cultural depth. The intellectual discussions with professors and peers challenged her assumptions on immigration, citizenship, and nationalism, shaping insights she still calls on when engaging in real-world conversations about global affairs. The cultural and political awareness later directed Cayla to the path of being an advocate for social justice.  

How the Internship Came Together

Cayla found the Youth Advocacy Division internship the Tufts way: through people. A classmate a year ahead mentioned an attorney at CPCS and encouraged Cayla to reach out. An informational interview turned into an offer.

Excited to start working in the field, Cayla had one concern: The internship was unpaid. The previous summer, Cayla had supported herself by juggling multiple jobs—data work for a professor, a boutique spin studio shift, and serving as an RA. She didn’t want to divide her time again. Fortunately, through the Black student community, she learned about the Bruce-Griffey Leadership and Diversity Internship Fund. This alumni-organized grant helped Cayla afford a living during her unpaid internship, so she could fully focus on developing her professional experience. 

“I could pay my bills and actually be present,” Cayla says. “Otherwise, I would have missed court dates, client meetings—everything that makes an internship like this meaningful.” Without alumni support, Cayla would have had to split her time between paid work and the internship, or turn the internship down entirely. The Bruce-Griffey Fund closed that gap.

Exploring the Legal System and Helping Underserved Communities 

As a summer intern at the Youth Advocacy Division, Cayla supported mitigation work for adolescents involved in the court system. She and a social worker drove across Greater Boston to meet clients in detention centers, group homes, and youth residences. 

She helped these young people find resources and programs that could be part of a plan for them to remain in their communities rather than facing detention or sentences. She also attended court, observed proceedings, and learned how lawyers, social workers, judges, and families fit together in the system. 

“It was my first time in the court, working with clients and lawyers. Being able to see how the justice system can impact young people was so illuminating,” Cayla shares.

The stakes were real. “At the start of the summer, we met a young person in a group home; by the end, we were meeting in a detention center,” Cayla recalls. The lesson she carried forward was humility and resolve: Young people make mistakes, and accountability matters, but so do development, support, and second chances.

How the Internship Shaped Her Career

The summer internship confirmed Cayla’s intention of becoming a lawyer to advocate for people in need. She remembers a colleague whose ability to speak Spanish changed the course of a case by uncovering critical details. “Being able to talk to clients as another person of color, you could see that it helps them feel heard and seen."

“I realized that more often than not, especially in this city, you're going to be one of the few Black attorneys, let alone Black female attorneys,” she says. “Representation matters.” 

After graduating, Cayla worked as a paralegal at several firms and a non-profit organization serving children in foster care. With a few years of experience, she took the LSAT, applied, and enrolled at Boston College Law School.

Cayla is quick to point out that she tapped into Tufts’ alumni career resources throughout this journey. “It was amazing that I was still able to rely on Tufts University to help me with my career even after graduation. And it was free.” From resume reviews and mock interviews to networking calls with Tufts graduates in law, the alumni network provided practical guidance and insider perspectives for her applications.

Message to Students and Fellow Jumbos

During her first summer in law school, Cayla clerked for a judge in Tacoma, Washington; in her second, she joined a large law firm, where she now practices and thrives as a first-year associate. The Bruce-Griffey Fund played a pivotal role in her success story. By sharing her journey, Cayla hopes to inspire current Tufts students and her fellow alumni. 

For current Jumbos, Cayla’s advice is simple yet powerful: Use the community around you. “The tools you have are right in front of you—the people you talk to every day and the school itself. If you speak to enough people, you’ll eventually find the right person to guide you.”

To Tufts alumni, her message is a call to action: 

“Give whatever is in your capacity—time, talent, or treasure. Mentor. Volunteer. Donate. It all matters, and it spreads the wealth in more ways than you can imagine.”

The Ripple Effect of an Alumni-Funded Summer

Cayla’s internship didn’t just fill a resume line. It clarified a vocation, built confidence, and set her on a path she’s still walking today. Most of all, it underscored how alumni can remove barriers that keep talented students from saying yes to transformative opportunities.

Once an award recipient, Cayla now supports the very resources that supported her by donating to the Bruce-Griffey Leadership and Diversity Internship Fund and staying engaged with the Tufts community. Join Cayla in paying it forward. Your gift to Tufts helps create a life-changing experience for fellow Jumbos.

Donate today or get involved as a volunteer!