Another week down and I learned so much this week! I began the week continuing to work on preparing an affidavit and some redactions for a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs in a case that the firm had won. I also continued to perfect my arguments for the Daubert motion I was preparing for the Summer Associate Writing Competition. Later that day I, prepared some research regarding defective public sidewalks for associate Madison Miller.
The summer associates had a check in with partner Brett Carey about time keeping and billing. Surprisingly, I have been able to get in the groove of billing for what I do in the office and making sure I enter it as soon as possible. I definitely thought that would be something that I struggled with, but the systems that we use make it so easy!
I attended my first attorneys’ luncheon where the attorneys get together, have lunch, and someone gives a presentation. This time around, we heard from one of the firm’s founding partners, Bud Kirk, who give a presentation on all of the tips and tricks that he has been able to formulate when it comes to voir dire. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to see this presentation. Not only is Bud a great storyteller, but the things that he had to say were really insightful and something that I know I can follow when I become an attorney.
I spent some of my time on Thursday helping associate Angel Everett with communicating with some attorneys in Puerto Rico to assist us with a matter we are handling. Later that day, I watched my mentor Blake Bonsack argue a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. I had never handled one of those nor had I come across the issues he was arguing, so that was another first for me. I ended the day by going to happy hour with some of the associates and, as always, I really enjoyed getting to know them a bit more.
The week flew by and Friday was here before I knew it. The office was a bit quiet so I took some time to put the final touches on my Daubert motion before submitting it. To bring the week to an end, I was also able to join a Zoom meeting where Rob Blank was taking the deposition of an expert all the way out in California! It was one of those cool moments in which I did not realize how much I’ve learned in completing some of the summer associate tasks. Throughout the deposition, some of the issues I wrote about in my Daubert motion came up and because I had spent so much time crafting the arguments in my own motion, I knew exactly where the deposition was headed. It was a great experience and I cannot wait to have more of those moments throughout the rest of the summer.
