I was fortunate enough to intern for a law firm in the Chicago area this summer! It was such a great experience being able to see what a day-to-day at a firm looks like. I even got the opportunity to be in the courtroom once a week with the attorneys. At the end of the summer, I was given the opportunity to continue as a remote legal assistant while I returned to Worcester for my junior year. Here is why I chose to continue my position and how I manage my life as a student!
1. I Enjoy What I Do
To say that I had a great experience this summer does not give my experience enough credit. Joining this firm I had no idea what to expect, this was going to be my first time working in the legal field and I knew I was interested in law but I wasn’t sure. But I was welcomed with open arms and learned the entire process of preparing a case all the way through the first court date. I was even given the opportunity to go to court once a week with the attorneys and observe what they do. I worked 9 to 5 all summer and really loved every minute of it. I never get bored of what I was working on. I think having such a great experience is a big reason why I knew that I wanted to continue working for the firm.
2. Law School
I am hoping to attend law school one day. It has always been a dream of mine to be a lawyer. But I never knew if this is something that I wanted to do. I’ve always heard that in order to make it in law school you need to be passionate about it. It takes a lot of motivation and passion. I am currently on my journey of preparing to apply for law school and deciding if this is the right path for me. Having this internship under my belt is a great resume builder for my application. Not every college student can say they were a legal assistant 2 years before applying to law school.
3. Pushing Myself!
Taking on challenges is something that I enjoy doing. I knew that balancing my studies and working was not going to be easy. The firm offered me a lot of flexibility, but I knew I wanted to still be an asset. Continuing to prove myself through my work even though I wasn’t in the office anymore. I would be lying if I said balancing my student life with working has been easy. On campus I am also in many extracurricular activities including another internship. Google Calendar has been a lifesaver for planning out my days. I make it a priority to have good time management, so that I don’t fall behind on my assignments and studying. Setting daily goals and being as productive as I can be is something I focus on!
This is a unique opportunity that I am grateful for! I am excited to return this summer to the office but in the meantime I continue my remote work from Worcester and Spain in the spring! Just know that anything is possible if you put your mind to it!