After finishing my last final and enjoying a short break full of golf and sleep, I couldn’t wait to start my summer with RumbergerKirk. All of the summer associates started in Orlando for orientation at the firm headquarters. Even though my flight was delayed (that’s part of flying in Florida in the summer!) this was a great opportunity to meet the team in the Orlando office, bond with the other summer associates over delicious meals, and of course, receive a formal introduction to the firm. We had a packed 48 hours of training on different firm applications, billing, legal research and writing. It was a very well-planned orientation including various partner presentations and former summer associates sharing their advice.
I knew during the Orlando office tour that I chose the right firm. Every attorney and staff member stopped what they were doing to say hello, introduce themselves, and ask about our orientation. Managing Partner Frank Sheppard even stopped by our welcome breakfast and throughout orientation to check in. It was an engaging experience and I am excited to see everyone again next week at our Opening/Closing Statement workshop in the Tampa office!
On Thursday, Ashley and I started in Miami. I arrived to my office to find a beautiful succulent plant along with a card for me. Blanca Aguilera, our phenomenal office administrator, gave us a tour and the low-down about daily “cafecito time.” We joined the Miami associates in a training led by Paul Lipton, a legendary trial attorney and Rumberger’s Director of Professionalism, Career and Skill Development. He told us a few inspiring stories which really fired me up to enter the legal field.
I also met with my summer mentor, Erin Weinstock, who is going to be an incredible resource throughout the summer. She is just a few doors down and is making sure I feel supported every step of the way. Every week, the Miami office has an attorney lunch where an associate presents a case or recent law that was passed. This week, associate Nick Aguirre discussed the heightened burden for plaintiffs when alleging fraud/misrepresentation in a complaint and provided two case examples. Hearing these attorneys speak so clearly with confidence made me excited to build my oral advocacy skills throughout the summer. We ended the day with a little more training and an office happy hour which was a wonderful setting to meet everyone.
On Friday morning, the summer associate writing competition was released. We have a few weeks to write a memo and I’m excited to get started. I also received my first few assignments, including a motion and a separate research project. Ashley and I ate lunch with our mentors at River Oyster in downtown Miami and I finished my first week off by getting to work!
I can tell this is going to be a very educational and fun-filled 10 weeks. We have plenty of scheduled social events, trainings, and our big mock trial at the end of the summer! The next few weeks will be extremely busy, but will be even more rewarding. Thanks for following along!
