By: Mariah Slocum
My first day of law school at the University of Chicago was both intimidating and exhilarating. Prior to my first day, I had frequently heard the common mantra that during the first year of law school they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death, and the third year they bore you to death. The saying was a little ominous to me as a 1L facing her first day, and I found myself wondering what aspect of law school would scare me to death. Would it be the cold calls? The heavy workload? The gunners? Everything? As it turns out, there are certainly scary aspects of the first year of law school, but I have found that it is a lot easier to avoid being scared to death if you have had some exposure to the law beforehand.
My job at Brownson and Linnihan gave me that exposure. I am the type of person that strives to be as prepared as possible for every situation and law school was no different. I have found that hands-on experience is one of the best ways to get that preparation, and I firmly believe that hands-on experience is valuable both for developing a broader skillset and for exploring interests. Before attending law school, I wanted to be as certain as possible about my decision to pursue a career in law. I met with lawyers in various practice areas of law to get their perspectives and learn about the day-to-day aspects of their work, but I had yet to observe and work within the field firsthand. When I was offered a job as a Project Assistant at Brownson and Linnihan, I was provided with the opportunity to do just that.
At Brownson and Linnihan, I was able to observe the everyday life of a litigation lawyer and the inner workings of a law office. I learned about the role of a summons and complaint long before my Civil Procedure course, through one of my tasks of entering new cases into the firm’s database. In one of my projects, I was able to see the development of a case from start to finish, gaining knowledge of the various elements and filings of which a case is comprised. This all became especially relevant after reading my first assignment for my Civil Procedure course and discovering the upcoming material would not completely blindside me. I was surprised to learn that terms and procedures that I had become accustomed to were unfamiliar to others. In addition to providing me with a base knowledge of the litigation process, my work at Brownson and Linnihan created in me an early interest in litigation, which has helped me focus my search as I consider my summer job options.
As with any new adventure, there are unique challenges that arise. In fact, there were plenty of occasions when that mantra of being scared to death began to really hit home. As many who have gone through the experience will tell you, one rough cold call can make you question yourself and your abilities for the rest of the day. However, one of the greatest things about law school is the continuous intellectual challenge and the joy that comes from learning new material. As a whole, I believe my experiences working for a litigation law firm afforded me insights into some of what I would encounter and learn about during law school, which boosted my overall confidence and made things less “scary” throughout my first quarter.
As I look back on my first quarter of law school at the University of Chicago Law School, I am grateful for my experiences with Brownson and Linnihan and how they contributed to my passion for the law and my preparation for law school. That preparation and skill development helped me adjust to law school with ease, and I felt much more comfortable beginning my studies than some of my classmates who had no such prior exposure. I would encourage any student who is considering law school to take advantage of any legal work experience they can find. If you are interested in law school and are lucky enough to have the opportunity to have a similar experience, or even to work at Brownson and Linnihan yourself, do it. When it is your turn to face your first day of law school, I have no doubt that you will be grateful for it.