8 August, 2023
Many law students know exactly what area of law interests them from the first day of law school. But what if you are not one of them? What if you are about to start working as a summer law student and are still unsure of which practice area you’d like to pursue?
Here are some helpful tips on how to maximize your time as a summer law student and narrow down what interests you.
Keep an open mind
It can be easy to pursue your initial interests when starting as a summer student. However, it is important to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and seek a broad range of opportunities. You may surprise yourself and find that you don’t like your initial interest and prefer a completely different area of law.
Student work opportunities are determined by law firms. Before applying for student positions, research to find out what areas of law prospective firms practice and what type of work students receive. Some firms specialize in a particular area of law, while others practice in several different areas of law.
In my opinion, the best type of firm for students to work at is full-service law firms. Full-service law firms such as Harrison Pensa, specialize in nearly every kind of legal practice. They are ideal for students because they allow them to try their hand at every type of law. Through trial and error, students can narrow down an area of law and make career choices that are reinforced by practical experience.
Rotation vs. self-directed systems
Many multi-service law firms place law students into a work rotation program. This system is effective at exposing students to different practice areas in a structured manner. This can benefit students who are unsure of what area of law they want to practice. It also forces students to push themselves beyond their comfort zone and challenge any pre-conceived legal interests.
Other firms offer a self-directed experience, where the students seek out work themselves. This system offers students more autonomy. Students that have solidified legal interests benefit from this style because it enables them to maximize their time on said interests. Furthermore, the self-directed experience also offers benefits to all types of students because it encourages students to independently reach out to lawyers and practice groups to build relationships. For example, students may have to reach out to lawyers to request shadowing opportunities, research, document drafting, or even full carriage of a file.
Through these kinds of efforts, students develop the professional and people skills necessary to attract and maintain a client base during actual practice.
In my opinion, the best student programs offer the best of both systems: a hybrid model where a formal rotation exists, but there is also room for self-directed learning.
Litigation
Law school and working as a law student both provide the opportunity for students to decide on whether to be a solicitor or a litigator. Many students fret at the thought of litigation, but I believe it’s important for all students to keep an open mind.
Law school offers numerous opportunities to sharpen litigation skills. For example, moots, clinics, and practical courses are all great ways to practice written and oral advocacy during law school.
Even if you didn’t pursue or enjoy these litigation opportunities during law school, do not shut the door on litigation during summering or articling. Legal advocacy in practice can be a lot different from academic opportunities. You may enjoy the hands-on nature of litigation in practice more than you initially thought.
In my opinion, students should aim to work at a firm that provides opportunities for litigation and solicitor’s work. Through these experiences, students can make an informed decision on whether they would like to practice as a litigator or as a solicitor.
Conclusion
Overall, starting as a summer student and developing your legal interests can be stressful. However, with careful research and hands-on experience, students will surely find an area of legal practice to pursue in the future.
Hugh McHenry is an articling student at Harrison Pensa LLP and completed his summer law student term at the firm.
Image credit: ©tanoy1412 – stock.adobe.com
