Week six was a short one on the calendar, but it certainly didn’t feel that way in terms of experience. From start to finish, it was filled with valuable learning moments and hands-on exposure that made the days fly by.
At our Monday morning meeting, Passion Wells shared that she had a hearing later that day to argue a motion to compel. I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to observe a hearing, so I made a point to attend and I’m so glad I did. Watching Passion in court was incredibly insightful. She managed the hearing with confidence and responded to opposing counsel’s arguments clearly and effectively. Seeing real-time advocacy in action gave me a much better understanding and appreciation for the skill and preparation it takes to argue effectively.
That experience ended up being perfect preparation for Tuesday’s Motion Practice Workshop, where the summer associates presented arguments based on our writing competition submissions. I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous going in but once I got started, I found my footing. Arguing the motion and delivering a rebuttal was both challenging and rewarding. Steve Klein (acting as opposing counsel) and Dan Gerber (serving as judge) made sure it was an interesting and valuable exercise by providing insightful, constructive feedback that helped bring the whole exercise full circle.
Later in the week, I attended two depositions. One in particular stood out—a treating physician who may also be called as a testifying expert. Madison Miller led the deposition, and it was incredibly impressive to watch her navigate highly technical medical information with clarity and control. I took detailed notes and later prepared a deposition summary, which helped me better understand how to synthesize complex information and organize key facts for the case file.
I rounded out the week by finishing a few assignments, meeting with attorneys to discuss upcoming projects, and continuing to build relationships around the office. I have noticed that some of the most helpful insight, advice and support has come from those simple day-to-day conversations, even though I am probably distracting them from their work!
Each week of the program continues to build on the last, and I can already feel how much I’ve grown both professionally and personally. The pace of the summer feels fast, but I’m trying to soak up every opportunity and stay present in each moment. I’m learning more than I ever expected, and I’m excited to carry these lessons forward.
