Weber Gallagher’s Post

What fictional character would you represent in court? Watch below to see how our 2024 summer associates answered this and other “tough” questions that drive at why they’re headed down the proverbial path to becoming lawyers. Note: This is our second of four summer associate highlight reels. We focus the camera here on law students who are currently summering in our #Indianapolis, #Pittsburgh, and #Nashville offices. Please tune back in next week to meet more of our 2024 summer associates! Give it up for this video’s remarkable line-up, including: ⭐ DeNay Adams, 2L, West Virginia University College of Law ⭐ Jonah Auslander, 1L, Wake Forest University School of Law ⭐ David Bradley, 2L, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law ⭐ Elizabeth Crites, 2L, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law ⭐ Elizabeth Anne Henderson, 2L, University of Michigan Law School ⭐ Grace Jelkin, 1L, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville ⭐ Anastasia Rivera, 2L, Indiana University Maurer School of Law In case you missed it or want to revisit it, we've included a link to our first video (Cincinnati and Columbus associates) in the comments. #SummerAssociates #LawSchool #Internship Morgan Smith #TeamFBT Libby Naikelis Ian O'Donnell #LawStudents #LawFirm Tammy Beam #LegalCareers #SummerProgram

Law students, Law school, on the whole, gives you few skills. This is one of many reasons you want to get an internship that offers skills building. But because law school focuses so much on the theory instead of the "how to," a creep of uncertainty seeps into most of us. We want to know how to do things in the law, but law school doesn't teach the "how." You also want to ensure that in your first few years of working, you are gaining skills in your chosen practice area. Doing so is not being selfish. It is absolutely what you should be doing. Why? Because you want to use the first few years of your practice to create a foundation of skills you can build. And when you get an internship or your first job, and you encounter that "old" lawyer who wants to sit with you and discuss cases and show you things in court or bring you onto a case to learn, be gracious and accepting. This is where you will learn years of material in months and see your skillset exponentially increase. So much discussion on the teaching of law centers on how the law used to be taught by apprenticing. It still is. Now, you have to go to law school before starting your apprenticeship unless you are fortunate and get an internship that treats you like a lawyer before you pass the bar. But we learn to practice by doing, not reading, not theory games, not writing papers. It is by doing. And we all apprentice. #lawstudents

In Lewis Caroll’s children’s classic tale, Alice in the Wonderland- Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire Cat in a tree. ‘Which road do I take?’ She asked ‘Where do you want to go?’ Was his response ‘I don’t know’ she answered ‘If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take your there’ came reply. Moral of the story- first have clarity. Only then choose a path forward. Thus, for the future law students ask yourself why do you want to be a lawyer? To be that kind of lawyer do you have to be in litigation (in court) or non-litigation (transaction lawyer). And then ask which law school is best suited to you? You need to have a tailor made choice, according to your needs rather than one size suits all. Just like Alice, if you’re not sure where you want to go then just any law school would do. If you’re clear, choosing a law school according to your own needs and temperament maybe wiser. Many law schools have mandatory attendance whereas many law schools prefer their students intern throughout the year and hence strict attendance/college timings is not there. I once met an intern at a top law firm who was interning throughout the year whereas other interns could only intern in between semesters (for 1 or 2 months). The work exposure the law student would have who have interned throughout the year vs someone new at work who has to be trained is a consideration for many law firms. Don't just chase the college rankings. Chase your own goals. Choose wisely. #lawyer #lawstudent #lawfirm #bombayhighcourt #intern #internship #opportunity

Thrilled to share a key achievement from my internship—I successfully completed my Task 3 and drafted a divorce petition at NyayaSarthak! Navigating legal intricacies, I ensured precision in addressing elements like collusion, timely filing, and jurisdiction. This experience deepened my understanding of family law, highlighting my commitment to legal integrity. Eager to leverage these skills in future endeavors! #LegalInternship #AchievementUnlocked #FamilyLaw 🔗

A law student recently asked me what he should read to prepare for an Eighth Circuit internship. Getting to intern with a judge is an honor and a tremendous opportunity. I admired this student’s desire to bring the most value he could to the court and to make the most of his time there. Here are the three things I recommended. I would give the same advice to a law clerk or staff attorney soon to start with the court, and the final piece of advice is valuable for Eighth Circuit practitioners, too: 1. Read some or your judge’s opinions. This will give you a feel for his writing structure and his style. 2. Read the Eighth Circuit Rules and the Rules of Appellate Procedure. No explanation needed. - and - 3. Read the Eighth Circuit’s Internal Operating Procedures manual. It’s this third one that is most interesting and likely most helpful for someone about to work for the court. (I advised the student to start with it.) As the court says in the introduction, this resource “cover[s] the essential and practical processes of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, implementing the statutory mandates, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedures, the Eighth Circuit’s local rules, and the customs and traditions of this court.” There is great value in knowing the customs and traditions of the court before which you practice. In many instances, these are unwritten and learned slowly through years of practice. But the Eighth Circuit makes this available on its website: https://lnkd.in/g9-QhEfr. This resource is a wealth of information, but it doesn’t contain everything about what Allison Orr Larsen and Neal Devins call the “personality” of the court. See “Circuit Personalities,” 108 Va. L. Rev. 1315 (2022), https://lnkd.in/gsaUNkZu. For that you have to work for or spend years practicing before the court. But this resource is a good starting place for someone about to work for or practice before the Eighth Circuit for the first time. I congratulate this law student on his internship and wish him well. Anyone else have any advice for those soon to intern with or work for a judge? #AppellateLinkedIn #FederalCourts #Clerkships #EighthCircuit

"When I joined law school, the reputation and standing of the college at the Bar, good faculty and student life was most important for me. Times have changed since and nowadays you students want more." Sharda School of Law offers everything from traditional teaching methods to modern practical skills, great infrastructure, faculty and internships.. getting you ready to go out and conquer the world! Check out the Sharda School of Law now: https://lnkd.in/gkgB6Ynw Tanya Appachu Kaul #ShardaUniversity #SUniverse #LawStudent #LawSchool #LawSchoolLife #AdmissionsOpen #ApplyNow

As a pre-law undergraduate student, I am keenly aware of the challenges inherent in securing internships that provide insight into the complex realm of law. The scarcity of such opportunities, compounded by the preference for 1L and 2L students, diminishes the chances for undergraduates to gain valuable experience in their chosen field that they are 100% dedicated and passionate about. I previously wrote about the life-changing opportunity the HALA Diverse Scholar Program gave me last summer. As an aspiring future law student with dreams of establishing my own law firm, getting a glimpse into the backbone of law firms and all of their intricacies was mind-blowing. For fellow pre-law students and those aspiring to own or manage a law firm, I strongly recommend applying for the Summer '24 cohort. Not only will you be blessed with immense knowledge but you will be able to network with a number of different professionals at national and international law firms. In my internship presentation last year, I emphasized, "...now is the time to take a leap and make a change." While this was initially directed at other law firms in Houston not yet involved in the program, it can now resonate with all those hesitant about applying. For those applying, best of luck to you and be sure to make the most of the opportunity. For the individuals and business directors overseeing the selection progress, I trust you will identify qualified candidates who can create change on a scale comparable to that of last year's cohort. For those law firms not currently involved, pre-law populations in universities will continue to grow linearly. However, interest in programs like these, exponentially. Rice recently opened a business major and minor in collaboration with the Jones Graduate School of business, adding to the possible population interested in programs like these. As Lucy H. Pearce aptly stated, "Trail blazing is an art-form. It is how we find paths through what before was wilderness." The following excerpts are taken from the mission statements of the law firms currently sponsoring the program: "We are committed, both as a firm and as individuals, to making an impact on the communities in which we live and work..." "The vision to spot opportunities where others see only obstacles..." "Diversity and inclusion make a better, stronger law firm and a better place to work. " As more and more law firms incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) into their mission statements and their daily practices, the time has come to translate these words into action.

Law school does not necessarily teach you how to practice law without seeking out additional opportunities. Law school teachs you how to research, write, and think critically. All very important skills to have as an attorney… but the skills needed don’t end there. That said, I highly encourage law students to seek out internships, law clerk positions, workshops, mentoring from lawyers/professors, etc. during law school. Those experiences will (depending on the experience) teach you how to interact with clients, market yourself, how to be successful as a young lawyer, etc.

Shout out to Lexi Howard-Mullins and her Gonzaga Law team for winning 3rd place overall for Best Motion in the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court! Each year, law students across the Western U.S. compete in the Moot Court at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals courthouse in San Francisco, CA. The team spends almost five months researching, writing an appellate brief, and practicing oral advocacy; and gets the opportunity to argue in front of attorneys from the San Francisco area. This year, Lexi and her team competed against 13 other teams and was composed of newcomers to the competition, meaning none of them had ever done anything like this before in high school, undergrad, or law school. They learned how to research, write, and advocate together as a team. From Lexi: “It was a privilege to both compete with and learn from these incredibly intelligent, impressive, and capable women, and I couldn’t have had a better soundboard or support system during this learning experience.”   Lexi is an intern in GLP Attorneys’ Spokane office. For more information on our legal internship program please contact the Director of Learning & Development, Kaitlin Roach, at kroach@glpattorneys.com. #personalinjurylaw #legalinternships #lawfirmexperience #interntraining #trialpreparation #caseevaluation #litigationprocess #legalresearchskills #clientadvocacy #lawinternshipprogram #internsupport #mentoringprogram #careerdevelopment #legalindustryinsights #glpattorneysinterns

Dear Connections! I’m excited to share that I’ve recently completed a one-month internship in July where I gained hands-on experience in various aspects of legal practice. Here’s a snapshot of what I accomplished: 1. Worked on Criminal and Civil Cases: Engaged in diverse legal matters, enhancing my understanding of both criminal and civil law. 2. Drafted Divorce Petition: Prepared a divorce petition under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, honing my drafting skills. 3. Legal Research: Conducted in-depth research on case law and legal precedents. 4. Court and Tribunal Visits: Observed courtroom proceedings and tribunal hearings to learn procedural nuances. 5. Drafted Legal Notices: Crafted legal notices, contributing to effective legal communication. 6. Witness Interrogation and Cross-Examination: Assisted in witness interrogation and cross-examination, gaining practical courtroom experience. I’m grateful for this opportunity to grow and look forward to applying these skills in future legal endeavours!