Week three was my first full week in the Birmingham office, and I couldn’t have wished for a better summer associate experience!
This week, I was able to turn in some research projects and get some great feedback from the assigning attorneys. On Monday, I worked on a project for partner Rebecca Beers. Not only was she super responsive to all questions I had while I was doing the work, but also gave me some great feedback and tips on my research. One of my favorite things about working at Rumberger is having the chance to learn, grow, and enhance my skills with the help of experienced and talented individuals such as Rebecca.
After work on Tuesday, the Birmingham office attended a Birmingham Barons baseball game, which was so much fun! The weather was absolutely amazing, and I am a huge baseball fan, so this outing was perfect! I am so thankful to be working in an office with individuals who truly have such a strong sense of friendship and camaraderie.
On Wednesday, I was invited to a lunch for the Rotary Club, a community-based international service organization with a branch in Birmingham. I attended the lunch with Rebecca Beers, who is a member of the Rotary Club, and associate Julie Potts, who is a member of RotarAct, an organization sponsored by Rotary for young professionals. It was really cool to learn that Birmingham has one of the largest Rotary clubs in the world, and even cooler to see how many attorneys are part of it.
Tuesday was also such a fun day! I attended a hearing with partner Jimmy Walsh, who does very inspiring work regarding mental health work. Jimmy took me to an informal negotiation, where I learned a lot about negotiation skills that are essential to everyday work of an attorney. I really appreciate the way that Jimmy allows me to experience so many different aspects of legal work, and I appreciate his mentorship throughout the summer.
On Thursday, I continued working on some research projects, and Jimmy allowed me to join him at a lunch with multiple attorneys to discuss working with clients with mental health disorders. Hearing Jimmy share his experiences with his clients was very eye-opening, and I appreciate his candor and kindness in relaying the situations he goes through as an attorney. It’s really great hearing about how much the attorneys at Rumberger care about their clients and making such a positive difference in their lives.
At the end of the week, I finished up some research, and had some great discussions with both Jimmy and my mentor, associate Fred Clarke, about some research I am doing for them. I love that, even as a law student, Rumberger allows me to be part of the conversation along with the attorneys. Discussions like these help me to expand my mind and enhance my skills.
Overall, week three was amazing, and I can’t believe how fast this summer is going. I can’t wait to see what else this summer has in store!
