Law Firm

Description:

I worked at a law firm during the summer. I worked mainly with all the different documents that law firms can produce. I helped inventory and send the documents off-site when a case was finished. I also scanned documents and created digital databases for their network. I also helped do odd jobs here and there like manage their off-site storage facilities.

How I got the idea / found the employment:

I got the job through some close family connections. After the initial summer that I worked there, I was able to secure a job there for the next few years. I got the idea because my cousin worked there at the law firm and I was able to work with him. The firm that I worked at was very large and produced a lot of documents.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

There were not many challenges that I had to face during my employment. Perhaps a challenge would be finding such an opportunity, but if an opportunity does arise to work in a professional setting at a firm or office, then it is definitely something I would recommend.

What I learned:

I learned a lot about law and how attorneys work. It was very interesting to me and I am considering pursuing a career in law thanks to my experiences working there in the summer.

Lawyer's shadow (tort law)

Description:

In essence, I was a lawyer's apprentice. I would watch him perform a task and then he would have me perform a similar one for a different case. Thus, I called doctors, wrote letters to clients, conferred with insurance companies, and even prepared cases for litigation and settlement. Everything I did was brought to him for review and I was expected to redo it until I got it right.

How I got the idea / found the employment:

At my high school, every student needed to research a career and get an internship that would show what the day-to-day life in that career is like. As my sister had worked at a law firm the summer before, I applied there. They accepted and liked me so much that they kept me on after my internship had ended.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

A self-starter himself, my mentor practiced a rather hands-off approach to teaching. He would explain what he needed, give me a quick explanation of how it should look, and then it was up to me to do my best to follow those directions. To stay ahead of the demand, I studied the cases he gave me to prepare for litigation and kept meticulous notes.

What I learned:

In this job, it was all about personal initiative. The lawyer had no time to hold my hand through every step of the way nor to constantly be looking over my shoulder. I had to proactively seek for answers everywhere I could and was expected to have fully thought out any problem I went to him with and provide my own solutions based on experience and example. It was up to me to make the most of my time and find ways to be productive without having to be told first. I basically learned how to take responsibility for my own productivity and to always be ready to provide solutions or suggestions rather than just wait for someone else to give them to me.