Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Lawyers At Latham And Watkins
Shawna, a lawyer at Latham & Watkins, advises that undergraduate entry-level positions in law are limited, with internships often involving tasks like "making copies, filing, uh, pieces of paper," rather than true legal work. However, the experience of interacting with practicing attorneys and observing "their everyday work" proves invaluable for gaining insight into the field.
Internship Experience, Networking, Legal Field, Entry-Level Positions, Law Firm Culture
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Shawna Strecker
Lawyer/Associate
Latham & Watkins
University of California Los Angeles, 2018
UCLA School of Law; Juris Doctorate
History, Art History
Law
Legal
Video Highlights
1. Internships at law firms can provide valuable experience, even if the tasks are not directly related to legal work.
2. Networking with lawyers and observing their daily work is a significant benefit of entry-level internships.
3. Undergraduate internships may involve tasks such as copying and filing, but they offer invaluable exposure to the legal field and its professionals.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
When I was an undergraduate, I did get a summer internship at a law firm. However, it is pretty tricky; not all law firms offer that.
You need specialized legal knowledge from law school to do a lot of the legal work. So, a lot of what I did in undergrad was making copies and filing pieces of paper, so it didn't feel like true legal work.
But it was still really helpful because I got to talk to lawyers in the law firm and see what their everyday looked like. Even though the work I was doing probably didn't prepare me for what I would be doing now, getting to chat with people and talk with other attorneys who were actively doing the work was very helpful.
So, while the work available when you're in undergrad may not feel exactly like being a lawyer, I still think if you can find an internship, it's very valuable experience.
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