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For Amanda LoPiccolo, a 2005 graduate of Widener University Commonwealth Law School, family law is both challenging and deeply rewarding. For the past 18 years, she has served as an attorney with Dauphin County Domestic Relations, where her days are filled with everything from managing the court unit, to negotiating agreements to handling complex paternity cases.

“The practice of family law shows people at their worst. It involves their kids and their money,” LoPiccolo said. “When I can resolve a contentious case before court, that’s the most rewarding part. People are calmer once they reach an agreement and know they don’t have to go before a judge on Monday morning.”

LoPiccolo, whose father spent more than 35 years in public service, said her own path into family law was shaped both by her upbringing and her education. “Widener gave me a great foundation,” she said. “Dean Liz Simcox helped me through a personal loss in law school and taught me the value of communication and relationships. No one knows your struggles if you don’t voice them.”

Her advice to students considering family law or public service is candid: “Clients can take over your life. They’re often just looking for someone to listen to them. Don’t take it personally when they lash out. Most of the time, they’re angry at the situation and later apologize.”

This summer, LoPiccolo welcomed four Widener Law Commonwealth students into Dauphin County’s Domestic Relations office, where they gained firsthand exposure to the realities of family law. Second-year student Cade Kassay, along with rising 2Ls Maha Farooq and Tasmena Thulasiram, joined the office for their summer internship, while extended-division student Jon Grove worked as a domestic relations conference officer full-time. Their responsibilities went far beyond observation. They typed court lists, checked in clients, prepared briefs and motions, and even made reminder calls for hearings while shadowing LoPiccolo.

“I took my interns wherever I went, even into judges’ chambers,” LoPiccolo said with a laugh. “Two of my interns had never stepped into a courtroom before. By the end of the summer, they were seeing the inner workings of the court process every day.”

For Kassay, the experience was both eye-opening and affirming. “I helped with gathering legal information, and I got to participate in child support and contempt court,” he said. “Taking notes in contempt court was the highlight of my summer. It was amazing to really feel like I was doing something helpful within the judicial system.”

Kassay also credited LoPiccolo’s mentorship with shaping his early legal career. “Amanda was such a wonderful boss to experience my first professional legal internship with,” he said. “Being able to pick her brain about the law, life, and everything in between helped me grow both as an individual and as a rising 2L student.”

Second-year student Tasmena Thulasiram said her day-to-day work ranged from drafting motions and briefs to researching support cases on the state’s child support enforcement database, and calling parties to attempt settlements before court. She also observed contempt and appeals court and sat in on review sessions.

“Observing these cases really showed me how emotional family law can be,” Thulasiram said. “It taught me to harness compassion and empathy when working with clients and to give them the support they need.”

She called LoPiccolo’s mentorship “inspiring,” noting that she was writing motions by her second day on the job.

“Amanda has dedicated her life to serving the community, and it made me want to support her mission in any way I could,” Thulasiram said. “She was patient, positive, and kept the office environment uplifting, even on long days. As one of my first bosses in the legal profession, she made me feel supported while also challenging me to dive into the work.”

Thulasiram said she would “100 percent recommend” the internship to fellow students. “It’s such a well-rounded experience,” she said. “You get to draft documents, research cases, and observe a variety of court sessions. The office itself is a welcoming environment, and Amanda creates a safe space where you can grow and learn.”

One standout moment for the office came during the spring semester when certified legal intern Alexa Tadleman, class of 2025, argued a paternity case in court. LoPiccolo stood by her side in case she stumbled, but Tadleman delivered her presentation with confidence. “She did an amazing job,” LoPiccolo said.

For LoPiccolo, teaching her interns meant more than introducing them to legal procedure. She emphasized professionalism, resilience, and humility. “I tried to show them the law doesn’t always have to be so serious, and you can laugh at yourself,” she said. “And I wanted them to learn that when they make mistakes, they should own them, bring them to their supervisors early, and propose solutions. No one expects perfection.”

The internship, offered primarily in the summer, gives students the opportunity to see how family law unfolds in real time while developing practical skills that carry into their legal careers. “Being right next to the courthouse makes this a unique experience,” LoPiccolo said. “Students don’t just read about family law, they live it. That kind of hands-on learning is invaluable.”