Jason Perez

My Position: I assisted the City Solicitor and Assistant City Solicitors in litigation by drafting legal memoranda, opinions, requests for production, and interrogatories. I conducted legal research, including analyzing case law and determining standards of review. I compiled legal opinions and contacted neighboring cities for best practices on ordinances and charter changes. I also reviewed union contracts, identifying problematic clauses and suggesting improvements. This role deepened my understanding of municipal law and legal processes.

I Learned: The role helped me improve my ability to distill complex legal information and strengthened my understanding of public sector legal practice. I gained valuable insight into how various departments interact with the law department. For instance, I participated in a joint operation involving the Holyoke Board of Health, the Holyoke Law Department, and the Holyoke Building Department. This collaboration focused on the legal, health, and building regulations concerning the occupancy of an abandoned building by homeless individuals. Finally, I formed lifelong connections that I can utilize if I am interested in municipal law in the future.

How My Classes Helped: My Legal Studies classes at UMass Amherst gave me a strong, interdisciplinary foundation in law, politics, and society within a social science framework. The program’s focus on critical thinking, research, writing, and communication prepared me to analyze complex legal issues and draft clear, persuasive documents, skills I used daily as a law intern. The broad range of courses helped me approach litigation with an open perspective, considering both the technical and social impacts of legal matters. This background made me an effective contributor to the City Solicitor’s team and allowed me to handle real-world legal challenges with confidence.