This week was a great mix of substantive legal work, professional development and a few memorable moments outside the office.
I started the week by working on deposition analyses and reviewing initial disclosures. It was a valuable opportunity to continue developing my understanding of litigation strategy and case preparation. As an added bonus, the building was serving poke bowls for lunch, which made for a great start to the week.
Tuesday was especially busy. I had lunch with my mentor, Renee Duffy, and her legal assistant, Sara Gaviria, at Malio’s, where we enjoyed salads and pasta. Back at the office, I attended the Summer Associate Motion Writing Seminar led by Rebecca Beers, a partner in the Birmingham office. She shared practical tips for improving legal writing and introduced resources we can continue to use throughout the summer.
Later that day, I watched Tampa associate Madison Temple argue a motion for summary judgment. It was a great opportunity to observe effective advocacy in action and see how attorneys present arguments before the court. Partner Steve Klein also released the Summer Associate Writing Competition problem, and I am looking forward to digging into it over the coming weeks.
On Wednesday, I continued working on a memo and attended a deposition workshop led by partner Joe Metzger. One of the highlights was participating in a mock deposition exercise, with Tampa attorney Robert Barton serving as our witness. It was a fun and practical way to develop deposition skills in a low-pressure setting.
Thursday brought another valuable learning experience when I attended a client meeting with Renee. Observing client interactions firsthand provided insight into the importance of communication, trust and relationship-building in legal practice. I also continued working on a memo and completed cybersecurity training with the firm’s CIO Avi Solomon.
Friday was a quieter day in the office, which allowed me to focus on drafting motions and making progress on another memo. I am also happy to report that my orchid is still thriving three weeks later. The attorneys in the Tampa office gifted it to me on my first day, and as someone with the opposite of a green thumb, I am proud to say it is still looking great.
Overall, this week offered a rewarding balance of hands-on legal work, professional development and opportunities to connect with everyone in the office.
