This month’s Adventures in Employment spotlight features Victoria Jewula, who spent her summer as a legal intern in the Legal Affairs Division at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Gaining hands-on experience across litigation, government programs, and regulatory compliance, Victoria shares key insights from her internship and how it shaped her career interests.
Can you talk briefly about what you did last summer?
During the summer, I had the privilege of serving as a legal intern in the Legal Affairs Division of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. The internship featured rotations across three of their key departments: Litigation, Government Programs, and Regulatory Compliance, providing a comprehensive view of in-house legal operations.
My six-week rotation in the Litigation Department involved assisting General Counsel with various legal matters. I conducted case law research related to ongoing litigation, explored potential future claims, and drafted memoranda analyzing legal issues that could impact Horizon as a corporation. This experience honed my ability to identify and address complex legal challenges in a corporate setting.
Subsequently, I transitioned to the Government Programs Department for two weeks, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare-related issues. My role involved researching and responding to inquiries from other divisions within Horizon, drafting detailed memoranda to address those legal questions, and gaining a deeper understanding of the interplay between government programs and corporate healthcare operations.
In the final two weeks of my internship, I joined the Regulatory Compliance Department, where I concentrated on ensuring Horizon's adherence to healthcare regulations. This rotation offered valuable insights into the critical role of compliance in maintaining corporate integrity within the healthcare industry.
This internship provided an excellent opportunity to experience the unique dynamics of an in-house legal environment compared to traditional law firms. It enhanced my legal research and writing skills while broadening my understanding of the multifaceted legal issues that impact a leading healthcare organization.
How and when did you find your job?
I applied for the position through Seton Hall Law's On-Campus Interview (OCI) program during one of the earlier phases of the recruitment cycle. In early April, I was invited to interview with several members of Horizon’s Legal Department. Upon receiving an offer, I was thrilled to accept and officially began my internship in mid-June.
What was a typical day like at Horizon BCBS?
Horizon’s Legal Affairs Division operates on a hybrid work schedule, with in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and remote work on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. My reporting manager provided flexibility regarding start and end times, but I typically began my day at 8 a.m., aligning with the office schedule.
Each morning, I started by checking my emails for any assignments from attorneys within the department. Most of my day was spent working on these assignments, which ranged across various legal topics and provided valuable hands-on experience. Early in the internship, I expressed my eagerness to stay busy, and the attorneys were proactive in involving me in meaningful projects.
To further enrich my experience, my managers scheduled one-on-one sessions with several attorneys in the office. These meetings allowed me to learn about their roles within their respective divisions, hear about their law school journeys, and gain insights into their legal careers. As a first-generation college and law student, these conversations were especially valuable, offering advice and guidance as I navigate the legal profession.
Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend group meetings where departments discussed their weekly agendas and provided updates on ongoing projects. These meetings offered a broader perspective on the collaborative efforts and strategic planning involved in managing legal matters within a major corporation. The experience was both enlightening and inspiring, contributing significantly to my professional development.
How much of the internship did you spend working on compliance matters?
Over the course of 2–3 weeks, I focused on compliance matters, gaining valuable insight into this critical area of legal practice. Even outside of my designated rotations, attorneys frequently shared assignments they believed would be particularly engaging or instructive. This allowed me to gain a broader understanding of the diverse responsibilities and challenges faced by General Counsel at Horizon.
Did you enjoy the compliance work you were exposed to? Why or why not?
I thoroughly enjoyed the compliance work I had the opportunity to engage in during my time at Horizon. My primary focus was on Fraud, Waste, and Abuse compliance, as mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This involved ensuring that Horizon adhered to the standards required by both the State of New Jersey and the federal government. I found this work particularly interesting as it allowed me to deepen my understanding of administrative law by analyzing CMS rules and regulations while also expanding my knowledge in an area that was previously unfamiliar to me.
What was your favorite assignment or experience while working for Horizon?
One of my most rewarding assignments at Horizon was analyzing the newly issued Supreme Court decision in Jarkesy v. SEC. My task involved summarizing the ruling, assessing its implications for a health insurance company like Horizon, and presenting my findings at a monthly Regulatory & Compliance staff meeting attended by representatives from Horizon’s partners and affiliates. This experience allowed me to apply the analytical skills I developed in law school, as I identified the key rule and holding from the case and connected it to Horizon’s operations.
In addition to honing my legal reasoning, the assignment provided a practical opportunity to develop my presentation and communication skills. I presented the case analysis to a professional audience, answered questions, and effectively translated the decision's significance into actionable insights for the company. This experience was particularly valuable because it mirrored real-world lawyering—analyzing a new legal development, understanding its practical application, and advising a “client” on how to adapt. It was an exciting and formative experience that gave me a glimpse into the responsibilities and challenges of legal practice.
Do you have any future experiences lined up? If so, how did working for Horizon help you decide on your future employment endeavors?
I have recently accepted a Law Clerk position for the upcoming summer with Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari in Chatham, NJ. Blume Forte’s practice is primarily focused on medical malpractice, with additional work in personal injury and products and premises liability cases.
Prior to my internship at Horizon, I had not seriously considered pursuing a career in health law. However, my time at Horizon sparked a genuine interest in the field, and I found it both intellectually stimulating and rewarding. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to work in a health-centered legal practice, I am eager to explore the intricacies of medical malpractice and gain hands-on experience in this area.
While I remain open to exploring different practice areas as I refine my career goals, I am excited to take advantage of opportunities like this that allow me to discover where my interests and skills align. My internship at Horizon taught me the importance of keeping an open mind and being willing to explore areas of law that may initially fall outside my intended path. This summer, I look forward to immersing myself in the world of medical malpractice and gaining new perspectives on health law.
