My name is Katherine Munoz, and I am an intern in Trustee Nima Ghazvini’s office. My interest in law began in 4th grade where I discovered my prowess for advocacy by arguing during the Encyclopedia Brown class readings. My legal interest continued in high school through student government, where I encountered the impact of rules on the community. After college, I worked as a family‑law paralegal and saw how legal issues shape people’s lives during vulnerable moments. That experience solidified my decision to attend law school and continues to influence how I approach my studies.
As a second‑year student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law, I have spent time focusing on insolvency, secured transactions, and contracts. These courses have deepened my understanding of how financial and legal frameworks intersect. After graduation, I hope to clerk for a judge on the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals (“ICA”) to further develop my legal research and writing skills and gain a deeper understanding of appellate practice.
I learned about the Tom Vaughn Memorial Internship Program through the Honorable Robert Faris, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Hawaiʻi, who taught my insolvency course. He invited several students to the Hawaiian Bankruptcy Bar Association (“HBBA”) Fall Conference, where I met practitioners and members of the bankruptcy community. There, Judge Faris’s law clerk introduced me to Nima Ghazvini, the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee, who encouraged me to apply for the program.
Why Bankruptcy?
Although this internship is my first professional experience in bankruptcy, I built a solid foundation in Judge Faris’s Debtors’ and Creditors’ Rights course. We examined the rights and obligations of debtors and creditors, the structure of the Bankruptcy Code, and the areas where conflicts most often arise. Judge Faris emphasized the challenges debtors face in navigating the system, and how creditors protect their interests within it.
Bankruptcy initially felt daunting given the mountain of forms and numbers involved (I was an English major), but the course made the subject accessible and engaging. I was drawn to insolvency because it allows attorneys to help individuals and businesses through financial distress while maintaining a professional environment distinct from more emotionally charged fields like family law. The complexity of the work and its real-world impact made me eager to gain hands-on experience with the Standing Trustee’s office.
The interview process with the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee stood out to me because the Trustee and staff attorney, Kaʻala Duffy, took time to explain the office’s daily responsibilities and the broader role of a Chapter 13 Trustee. While my coursework provided doctrinal grounding, the interview offered a practical look at how those principles operate in real cases. This included how plans are evaluated, how the office interacts with debtors and attorneys, and how Chapter 13 proceedings are managed. That conversation clarified the nature of the work and reinforced my interest in joining the office.
Stepping In, Stepping Up
In the Trustee’s office, I assist with substantive tasks that support case evaluation and administration. Much of my work involves researching property and deed records for liquidation analysis, helping to determine the minimum distribution unsecured creditors would receive in a Chapter 7 case. This includes investigating debtors’ ownership and tenancy interests in real property.
I also conduct targeted legal research on issues arising in Chapter 13 cases, such as deductions under the Means Test or plan confirmation requirements. These assignments have helped me understand how doctrines like disposable monthly income operate in practice and how debtors structure their financial disclosures.
Beyond desk work, I have learned much by observing court proceedings, meetings of creditors, and seminars, which have strengthened my understanding of Chapter 13 practice and how its components fit together.
One of my ongoing projects is preparing questions for the staff attorney to use in meetings of creditors. Because these meetings are brief, I review each debtor’s schedules and proposed plans to identify potential issues in advance. Together, we piece together the debtor’s financial story and assess whether it aligns with the Code. This process allows me to develop targeted questions that clarify key facts and help determine whether a plan is feasible and compliant.
I was also encouraged to become a Supervised Law Student Intern, an opportunity that allowed me to litigate before Judge Faris. Arguing in court for the first time was both nerve-wracking and intimidating. Yet, with the advice to “be a gladiator” in mind, I learned to step forward with confidence, advocate clearly, and trust my preparation. In this role, I prepared by reviewing case materials, identifying key legal issues, helping to prepare arguments, and drafting an objection. I look forward to continuing to contribute more actively to the litigation process while strengthening my advocacy skills in the courtroom.
Learning Achievements
This internship has shown me that bankruptcy outcomes often turn on careful financial analysis and strategic decision-making rather than purely on black-letter law. Concepts like the Means Test, disposable monthly income, and liquidation analysis have become far more concrete as I have worked through real cases and seen how small factual differences can significantly affect debtors’ obligations and creditors’ recoveries.
I have also learned that bankruptcy practice is deeply rooted in issue-spotting and narrative construction. Each case requires assembling a coherent financial picture from schedules, plans, and supporting documents, then evaluating whether that story is accurate and compliant. This has challenged me to identify inconsistencies, anticipate objections, and understand the strategic choices made by both debtors and creditors.
The Tom Vaughn Memorial Internship Program has strengthened my research skills by teaching me to focus not only on statutory language but also on how courts interpret and apply it. I have also improved my communication skills through regular interaction with the Trustee’s staff, who have been generous with guidance and feedback. Their support has helped me ask more precise questions and work toward providing fully developed answers.
This internship has brought me closer to my long-term goal of clerking for a judge on the Hawaiʻi ICA. Working through real cases has strengthened my skills needed for a judicial clerkship, including research, writing, and legal analysis. The program has also helped me build meaningful connections within Hawaiʻi’s insolvency community, providing both practical training and a strong professional foundation.
The experience has also taught me to navigate uncertainty. Bankruptcy often involves incomplete information and competing narratives. Learning to work through those challenges has been invaluable. I have gained a deeper appreciation for the practical side of lawyering, such as how strategy, judgment, and communication shape real cases. This internship has been an important step in my professional development and has solidified my interest in pursuing legal work that is both intellectually rigorous and impactful to the broader community.
Potential Value to Trusteeships and Future Students
One of the most meaningful aspects of this internship has been the mentorship I have received. The attorneys and staff have been generous with their time, walking me through complex issues and offering thoughtful feedback. Their support has strengthened both my understanding of bankruptcy law and my confidence in my skills.
The program benefits both the Trustee’s office and future law students by fostering access, mentorship, and engagement in bankruptcy practice. The office gains motivated interns who contribute research, case reviews, and fresh perspectives. Students gain hands-on exposure to a specialized field, mentorship from experienced practitioners, and a clearer understanding of bankruptcy’s real-world impact.
Programs like this help demystify bankruptcy and build a pipeline of future attorneys who are technically skilled and mindful of the role they play in supporting financial stability and access to relief.
