Thanks to one University law student’s summer internship, he can add ‘cracking down on a crack dealer’ to his resume.

Philip Henderson, a third-year law student from Clayton, is interning with the Griffin Judicial Circuit, where he helped convict drug trafficker Terrence Berry, who received a 30-year prison sentence.

Police initially pulled Berry over for a window tint violation and was caught with about 250 grams of crack cocaine and three pounds of marijuana. He was charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He will likely serve 25 years in prison before serving his final five years on probation, according to Henderson.

“Philip handled himself like a veteran,” said Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard, who assigned Henderson to the case.

Henderson got the internship with the Griffin Judicial Circuit through the University’s prosecutorial clinic. The clinic integrates classroom instruction into real world experience in a prosecutors office.

“I consider myself extremely blessed to have had this opportunity,” Henderson said.

He graduated salutatorian from Lovejoy High School before completing his undergraduate at Georgia State University in three years, majoring in political science.

He expects to graduate from the University in May 2010.

Steven Lee, a third-year law student from Buford, is also a member of the prosecutorial clinic.

“Philip is funny, but focused,” Lee said. “He will be a difference-maker in the world.”

Henderson said he wants to continue working for the Griffin Judicial Circuit after graduation, where he hopes to work in criminal law as a prosecutor.

For now, Henderson said he was happy to do his part and learn the ropes of being a lawyer.

“I felt I was helping the community,” he said.