This past summer my intern position at the Law Firm of Higbee and Associates has been impactful in numerous ways. Firstly, this experience has benefited my future career as a lawyer by providing first-hand exposure to the legal profession. I found it vital to work in a legal setting beforehand to provide a baseline of what it is like. I will continue to benefit from this experience by expanding my knowledge and using it as a steppingstone for my professional career.
I am a Bachelor of Arts Psychology major, and I have been able to utilize my writing, analytical, and competency in human behavior for this internship. I worked in the Higbee and Associates Consumer Advocacy division, which assists clients with debt settlement, debt litigation, and representing debtors in settlement negotiations. You are seeing people at a low point in their lives struggling with debt and legal issues, which is a complicated position to be in. It is important to extend empathy, care, and understanding when talking to clients since they are relying on the help of the law firm to help them. My psychology background has been helpful in this regard applying my knowledge in perception, emotion, and social influence.
As far as educational requirements are concerned, I feel that communication, writing, and computer skills are helpful. However, you will be able to learn through experience and it is not essential to have an educational background depending on what your goals are. I met a paralegal who did not have an extensive educational background. She worked in numerous law offices where she earned her skill set, allowing her to fulfill the role and responsibilities of a paralegal. I am interested in pursuing this career after completing my internship because it has shown me that working in the legal profession is not as strict and daunting as the way you see in movies and shows. The environment was friendly, the team was insightful, and it was a comfortable learning environment.
I was provided the opportunity to have a 1:1 video meeting with a lawyer where I was able to ask further questions about law school and the opportunities available with a Juris Doctorate. The lawyer had a background in science and the medical field with his undergraduate degree. This showcased the flexibility of law schools and their diversity in applicants. It was comforting to see. There are also many roles a lawyer can fill, and it is more than just going to court and litigation. Some lawyers can become recruiters for big law firms, work in civil law, criminal defense lawyers, and much more. There is diversity in the legal field and there are opportunities in law school to determine what niche you would like to pursue.
Ultimately, my time during my internship solidified my decision to pursue law school. The curtain was unveiled, and I was able to see the inner workings of a law firm. My advice to future interns is to ask questions and don’t be too hard on yourself! It is a learning environment; you are not expected to know everything. The staff did an amazing job with providing training resources and assisting me with any questions I had. I was also able to connect with other like-minded students from different universities as well, allowing me to build a network of professional colleagues. Overall, I recommend this position to students who are curious about the legal field and want to learn more.