Next week is the ninth and final week of the Bilzin Sumberg summer associate program. As it winds down, we are finishing our remaining assignments, adding final lunches to the calendar, and preparing for vacation…or for some us…the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)! But the past eight weeks have been amazing, and each of us has had invaluable opportunities to gain early exposure to the practice of law, develop our professional skills, and build relationships. Below is a brief summary of my experience.
Assignments: I have worked under the supervision of attorneys from multiple practice groups.
- Real Estate: My assignments here included (1) drafting an amendment to a purchase agreement; (2) drafting and revising specific provisions of a consulting agreement; (3) researching and summarizing financial covenants, permitted transfers, and guarantees for loan transactions; and (4) assisting with two commercial real estate closings.
- Corporate: My assignments here included (1) researching and summarizing Florida default rules pertaining to specific partnership disputes; (2) researching Florida and Delaware mandatory rules pertaining to limited liability companies and limited partnerships; and (3) assisting with due diligence tasks for a corporate acquisition.
- Litigation: My assignments here included (1) researching case law regarding the requisite standards for declaratory judgment in order to defeat a motion for declaratory judgment; and (2) conducting a thorough review of foreign corporate documents in order to gather evidence of an antitrust price-fixing scheme among co-conspirators.
- Land Use: My assignment here included researching Miami-Dade County ordinances and administrative orders pertaining to the private-development on county-owned land.
Events: The networking events this summer have been plentiful and rewarding. From preparing meals at a Coral Gables restaurant to volunteering at a homeless shelter in Miami, we have had opportunities to have fun and give back to our community.
Mentorship: I want to be sure to highlight this aspect of the summer program. Each summer associate is assigned an attorney mentor who is responsible for providing advice and guidance throughout the summer. And all of our mentors have done a phenomenal job in making themselves available to us and looking out for our best interests. With that being said, I want to give a special thanks to Chris Pierson for his service as my attorney mentor for the past two summers!
In summary, it has been an absolute pleasure to work here as a summer associate for the past two summers. I have learned a lot, built invaluable relationships, and discovered a strong passion for a particular area of the law. Now that I’m aging out of this whole law school thing, I look forward to stepping into the next phase of my legal career. Stay tuned!