Ambika Patpatia, Anna Mae Engel, and Vinvent Dinolfo, are law students working with the Great North Innocence Project’s legal team this summer to investigate and litigate innocence cases. In this role, Ambika, Anna Mae, and Vincent are interviewing witnesses, investigating case details, supporting attorneys during hearings, and conducting research.
Vincent (left), Anna Mae (top right), and Ambika (bottom right)
Great North Innocence Project: Tell us about yourself.
Ambika Patpatia: I grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota, and am currently a rising 3L at the University of Minnesota Law School.
Anna Mae Engel: I am from the general area of Winona, MN. Growing up, I practiced classical ballet at the MN Conservatory for the Arts. While in Undergrad at Winona State University, I was a part of the Legal Association Club, Hip Hop Team, and worked as a rock-climbing/belay instructor. I am currently a rising 3L at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and am a member of the Legal Association of Woman Students (LAWS).
Vincent Dinolfo: I am originally from the southwest Chicago suburbs. I have since moved around a bit, but now consider Minneapolis home. I am currently attending Penn State Dickinson Law in Carlisle, PA, and just completed my first year (now a rising 2L!).
GN-IP: How did you learn about the Great North Innocence Project & why were you interested in working with us?
AP: I was in the Criminal Defense Clinic last year and the Student Director, Madison Wadsworth, told me about the great experience she had at the Great North Innocence Project. I had, of course, heard of the Innocence Project and the amazing work they do but was glad to learn that the Great North Innocence Project gives their summer law clerks hands-on experience! Once I explored the website and learned more about the work I knew I wanted to be a part of this awesome team.
AE: I learned about the Great North Innocence Project through a course I took at Mitchell Hamline during the fall of my 2L year called, "Wrongful Convictions." Andrew Markquart (who currently works for the Great North Innocence Project) was my professor at the time. Throughout the progression of the semester, my interest of wrongful convictions grew and I felt inspired to inquire about the possibility of volunteering my time to intern for the Great North Innocence Project. Working to investigate claims of innocence and ultimately freeing those who are innocent of the crimes they've been convicted of is not only extremely admirable, but it also makes lasting impacts and helps to prevent wrongful convictions in the future.
VD: GN-IP was recommended to me as a great place to volunteer after networking with an attorney (John Sullivan) local to Minneapolis and familiar with non-profit organizations in the area. Supporting nonprofits and organizations helping people through legal advocacy was a primary motivation for me to pursue a law degree, and GN-IP stood out because of the amazing work it does to help clients seek justice.
GN-IP: What led you to law school?
AP: I started my career after undergrad in technology. I worked in both the Twin Cities and Los Angeles. However, once the pandemic hit in 2020 I realized that the best time to pursue your dreams was the present. I had always been interested in the criminal legal system and particularly the inequities it perpetuates. I decided to take the leap into a brand new industry and the brand new world of law school!
AE: Since childhood, I have always felt a duty to stand up for those who have been wronged, and since I was (and still am) terrible at math, the legal profession was the perfect place for me. I wanted to help those who had been victimized and I also wanted to be able to make lasting impacts on the legal system. For me, I felt that the best way to do both of these things was to become a prosecutor. Since starting law school, I have learned that while the legal system can help victims, it can also create victims through wrongful convictions. Moving forward, I want to continue helping victims but also work to prevent future wrongful convictions.
VD: A legal degree opens a lot of doors to careers that can significantly and tangibly help people that need assistance in our modern society. I am hoping to use my degree to help make a positive impact on peoples' lives, either through litigation, non-profit and pro-bono work, or policy change.
GN-IP: What are you most excited to learn while working at GN-IP?
AP: I'm most excited to learn about the ins and outs of post-conviction relief. I also think that the team particularly excels at creating trusting relationships with their clients and I hope to learn this skill while at the Great North Innocence Project.
AE: I think I am just excited to learn in general. I'm excited to learn more about the history of wrongful convictions, the impacts GN-IP has made since it's creation, how the legal system has changed since the creation of GN-IP, and so much more.
VD: I am excited to learn more about the post-conviction process in detail and understand how best to assist clients through it. This will for sure be a crash course into criminal evidence procedures for me!
GN-IP: Where do you see yourself in five years?
AP: In five years I hope to be working in public criminal defense in some capacity. Throughout law school, my definition of justice has completely evolved. I would feel lucky to serve the population that is most directly affected by the breaks in the criminal legal system.
AE: I see myself working in the area of criminal law, but I haven't yet restrained myself to any particular plan. However to put it simply, I see myself helping victims.
VD: It is always hard for me to picture exactly what the future will hold, but I hope to be leveraging my law degree to help people either through non-profit work or otherwise.