#SHLWorks: Gaining Legal Experience Through Summer Positions
Summer jobs provide opportunities to build skills, extend professional networks, and develop strong resumes for future career success
#SHLWorks highlights Seton Hall Law students and the opportunities they pursue during the summer to gain legal experience in a variety of fields.
Ashley Fletcher '18
Hometown: New York City
Undergrad: Emory University
Summer position: Legal and Compliance Intern, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York
In this position, I have gained further exposure to the various roles of in-house counsel. This position is rotational, and I will be working in the Compliance, Employment law, and Contracts practice groups.
My summer plans: Weekend trips, spending time with friends and family, and doing leisure reading from a reading list that I recently created.
Danielle Craft '18
Hometown: Elmwood Park, New Jersey
Undergrad: Fordham University
Summer position: Judicial Intern for Chief Justice Rabner, New Jersey Supreme Court
I am excited to immerse myself in the challenging legal issues that face our state’s highest court, and engage in the multi-faceted process in which justice is achieved, from precedent to public policy. I also look forward to applying and expanding my research, writing and analytical skills.
My sincerest thanks extend to Deans Boozang, Werbel and Forrest, as well as the entire team in the Office of Career Services, for helping me secure my summer position. They work around the clock to ensure that students succeed in obtaining valuable opportunities for their first-year internships and beyond.
My summer plans: Enjoy the weather (hopefully a few day trips to the beach), and spend quality time with friends and family before my 2L year begins.
Oliver Encarnacion '17
Hometown: Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Undergrad: The College of New Jersey
Summer position: Business Litigation Law Clerk, Becker & Poliakoff, LLP, Morristown
As an aspiring litigator and trial lawyer, I am hoping to, and believe I will be, exposed to all the critical facets of litigation and diving into real lawyering beyond legal research and writing. Thus far, I have been engaged in producing significant work that I've waited years to be asked to do. I have worked on responses to interrogatories and demands for production of documents, a statement and a presentation for mediation, and in-depth review of document production to identify and extract key documents. I have also worked on preliminary drafts for motions and a substantial depositions exhibits list, which has allowed me to closely familiarize myself with the parties and relevant documents and learn about the substance of the case firsthand. I have already had the opportunity to assist with trial preparation and building the client’s case through research and writing.
Although I started my position only a few weeks ago, the experience has already proven to be the most rewarding and hands-on. Everyone I've met at the firm works so hard and so diligently, demonstrating such commitment towards the clients that I feel compelled to give as much of myself. I feel fortunate and blessed to be surrounded by competent and experienced attorneys with whom I can forge meaningful relationships and from whom I can gain insight and the type of acumen that only this experience and mentorship can provide.
I obtained this opportunity through the Career Services' On Campus Interviews. Maria Capra has been and continues to be a mentor in my career path. She has worked with me since day one, always keeping my best interests at heart and seeking out opportunities where she thought I best fit. I was invited to many interviews from reputable employers, and it would not have been possible without Maria’s guidance and sincere and unconditional support.
My summer plans: I love reading and improving myself, so I will be reading The New Lawyer's Handbook: 101 Things They Don't Teach You in Law School by Karen Thalacker, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith. I am also looking forward to spending quality time with family and close friends, going to restaurants I have not been to yet with my mom, going down to the Jersey Shore, checking out new movies, meditating and reflecting by the waterfront in my hometown, volunteering, working out, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors. Also on the weekends, I want to start blogging and will be learning Italian and American Sign Language.
In August, I will be taking acting classes with the Barrow Group in New York City (not to become an actor, but so that I can grow more confident in my own skin and be myself). Someday when I stand in front of a jury, I want them to not only hear what I am saying; I want to bring them there.
This photo, taken at the Student Organization Fair in August 2015, reflects my enthusiasm for meeting and connecting with people. Every single person we meet knows something we have yet to learn about.