Week five of the Summer Associate Program flew by—and it was packed from start to finish. Honestly, I’ve been loving how busy things have been. Every day brings something new, and I’m really starting to see my confidence grow as I take on more responsibility and get involved in different aspects of the work.
One of the things I’ve come to really enjoy is our Monday morning office meeting. It’s such a simple but smart way to kick off the week. Everyone shares what they’re working on, and it gives me the chance to follow up with people afterward if I want to learn more, sit in on something, or offer help on a matter. It’s also a great reminder of just how much is going on around me—and how many learning opportunities are right there if I ask.
Throughout the week, I balanced a few quick assignments for some partners and associates, including a larger research memorandum on corporate representative depositions involving experts and their businesses. I hadn’t studied this topic before, which made it that much more interesting. It’s assignments like this that are eye-opening and make you realize just how much variety there is in this profession—you never really know what’s going to land on your desk, and that’s part of what makes it so exciting.
I also had the chance to attend a Motion Practice Seminar led by Partner Dan Gerber, where we focused on how to structure and effectively argue motions in front of a trial court judge. It was great preparation for our upcoming Motion Practice Workshop, where we’ll be arguing the motion we submitted for the Summer Associate Writing Competition. The session was a great combination of practical advice and strategic thinking, and it left me feeling more confident and excited to take on the challenge.
One of the biggest highlights this week was spending a day out in the field with Passion Wells attending two depositions and an interview. I took notes and later prepared deposition summaries for the case file. Passion was incredibly helpful throughout the day, and it was such a valuable hands-on learning experience – I learned so much just by watching her in action and asking questions along the way.
Later in the week, the office hosted an attorney lunch meeting where Seth Roebuck briefed a case and Jessica Romanies presented on tort reform. It was a great refresher and sparked some important conversation about how recent changes affect our day-to-day work.
And of course, there was time for a little fun—shuffleboard! I teamed up with Renee Duffy, and together we managed to beat Rob Blank and Blake Bonsack in a very competitive match. I really appreciate how many opportunities the Tampa office creates for us to connect outside of work. It says a lot about the culture here—people genuinely enjoy working with one another, and that kind of environment is something I really appreciate.
I ended the week with some casual coffee and lunch with associates, as well as a quick meeting to go over our upcoming mock trial. It’s hard to believe the summer is already halfway over. I’ve learned so much, and I’m grateful for how invested everyone in the Tampa office has been in my growth. They’ve created an environment where I feel supported, challenged, and excited to keep going.
Here’s to the second half of the summer—and everything that’s still ahead!
