This week provided a great mix of hands-on litigation experience, research and writing, and opportunities to learn from attorneys across the firm.
On Monday, I attended a mediation with Paulina Jacobs and had the opportunity to observe the negotiation process firsthand. It was valuable to see how Paulina prepared for mediation, crafted her opening statement, and approached negotiations throughout the day. Afterward, I attended a weekly attorney meeting and spent part of the afternoon drafting a mediation summary.
Tuesday brought an opportunity to get out of the office when I attended a site inspection with Madison Temple. Later in the day, I began drafting a motion for bifurcation of liability and damages and attended a hearing on a third-party motion to dismiss.
Wednesday was busy but rewarding. I attended a deposition with Paulina in the morning, participated in a client call with my mentor, Renee Duffy, and later observed a settlement conference call with Paulina. During the attorney lunch, Blake Bonsack led a discussion about a recent Florida Supreme Court decision involving punitive damages, which sparked an engaging conversation about its implications for plaintiffs and defendants.
The day concluded with dinner at Rocca in Tampa, a Michelin-starred restaurant owned by Blake’s brother. The food was incredible, and it was a great opportunity to connect with attorneys outside the office.
On Thursday, I drafted a deposition summary based on the prior day’s testimony and attended an expert witness deposition with Rob Blank. Later, I joined the Associate College lunch, where partner Damien Orato delivered a presentation on jury selection. Hearing practical insights from experienced trial attorneys added another layer to my understanding of the litigation process.
I wrapped up the week on Friday by drafting a memorandum and beginning an outline for a motion based on the expert deposition I attended the day before. The week ended on a fun note with a firm happy hour, where we watched the United States defeat Australia in the World Cup.
Overall, this was my most enjoyable week yet. Between attending depositions, mediation sessions, hearings, and client meetings, I gained a broader understanding of how litigation unfolds while continuing to build relationships with attorneys throughout the office.
