A Summer in Her Shoes is a series that explores the experiences our fabulous HLS women have during summer break.

Laura and her mother at the White House Press Room

Laura, Gibson Dunn and Washington Lawyers’ Committee, Washington, DC

I’ve been spending my summer in muggy but beautiful Washington, DC. In spite of the weather, I have been loving my experiences here! I started out at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a law firm best known for their litigation department. I spent eight weeks there getting my feet wet with a bunch of different pieces of litigation, ranging from consumer class actions to labor and employment disputes. The firm also sponsored an amazing amount and variety of events for the summer class to bond over, all of which were super fun and truly memorable.

For the last week and a half I’ve been at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee. My work here has been focused on plaintiff-side employment litigation, ranging from conducting client intakes to drafting complaints for filing in federal court. Last night we had intern bonding at Mansion on the O, an eclectic series of connected row houses with hidden passageways throughout. Definitely worth checking out if you ever come to DC! (You can stay in one of the many themed rooms for a night.)

DC has been more than just work though. The city comes alive in the summer, and you can find people out having fun even in 100+ degree weather. It’s pretty spectacular how many free events and music series there are in the city, plus just a great variety of music venues, bars, restaurants, and so on. Definitely a fun place to spend a summer if you’re still looking for the perfect city for you!

A Summer in Her Shoes is a series that explores the experiences our fabulous HLS women have during summer break.

Neha, National Center for Youth Law, Oakland, CA

Before I went to Law School, I taught 6th grade in East Oakland, CA. I absolutely loved my experience; so, when I got a summer offer from the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) to return to Oakland and advocate for needy youth systemically, I jumped at the opportunity. What I knew as a teacher, but didn’t necessarily witness firsthand, was that youth in Oakland face devastating and unimaginable problems.

For example, one of my main projects this summer is working on behalf of commercially sexually exploited youth in Oakland. I used to think of human trafficking as an international issue and was absolutely floored to realize that it was not just happening, but a pervasive problem just a few miles from where I taught. These girls (and some boys) are usually run-aways from the Child Welfare system and are picked up by “pimps” with promises of a better tomorrow– most of them have no idea they will be sold for sex and forced to stay with extreme violence. I was even more shocked to realize that these youth are not always treated as victims in the eyes of the juvenile justice system and are frequently incarcerated and denied medical benefits. I’ve been working with an attorney at NCYL to find a systemic way to ensure these minors are able to receive the benefits and, consequently, the mental health services and counseling they desperately need. It has been a truly rewarding experience to return to a community I care so much about and help make lasting change on behalf of a group of primarily young women who truly need it.

A Summer in Her Shoes is a series that explores the experiences our fabulous HLS women have during summer break.

Brittany – Marvel Studios, Manhattan Beach, CA 

Hi, readers.  I am currently a Legal Intern in the Business & Legal Affairs Department of Marvel Studios in Manhattan Beach, CA.  I started working right when “Marvel’s The Avengers” was breaking box office records, so it has been an exciting time to be behind-the-scenes and see what’s coming up next.  On a daily basis, along with Marvel’s legal team, I draft and review the talent contracts — actors, composers, directors, editors, producers, and writers — for the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  I also assemble data pulled from these contracts and other informational sources to prepare for upcoming talent negotiations and sit in on departmental meetings as the talent deals take shape.  During this process, I sometimes assist in drafting and sending correspondence to outside talent agents and lawyers.

As is characteristic of working in-house, I have also done or seen a little bit of everything else — budgeting, copyrighting, licensing, promotions, etc.  I am being exposed to all of the idiosyncrasies and nuances of entertainment law and in-house counsel work that can only really be learned by spending time in this sort of environment.  Because I work directly under the Principal Counsel, I have also received in-person, one-on-one feedback on my contract drafting and other projects.

And, as if the work wasn’t interesting enough, there of course have been all of the “fun” perks of working for a place like Marvel.  The office is filled with action figures, comic books, and film posters.  I have seen exclusive film footage and tested video games in the conference room.  I also attended Comic-Con and an early 3D screening of “The Amazing Spider-Man.”  I can’t imagine a more excellent way to have spent my 1L summer.

Hello WLA members!

The WLA Firms Committee wanted to wish everyone who is doing EIP good luck. We also wanted to give you some general tips for success at EIP. Below is a list of resources that can help you as you are researching firms, putting together your bid lists, and preparing for interviews. Hopefully this list will provide you with some quick links to helpful information.

On an entirely different note, we want to encourage everyone going through EIP to enjoy the process. We know it can be stressful to do so many interviews, try to put forward your best foot, and be “on” all of the time. However, remember that these interviews will be more enjoyable and successful if you are relaxed, friendly, and approachable instead of stressed and nervous. Think of EIP as an opportunity to get to talk to many accomplished lawyers about their careers and to learn from them. If you have a good attitude and relax, you’ll do well. We are truly lucky to be at a law school where almost everyone who wants a firm job gets one. Remember that and enjoy EIP.

Additionally, we encourage each of you to give some serious thought to how you will take care of yourself throughout EIP. Make sure you plan for sleep, exercise, and occasional mental breaks. Further, the waiting room at the Charles Hotel can be an overwhelming place if you haven’t done some thinking about what environment will be best for you. Do some thinking ahead of time about if you’d like to hang out with friends while you wait for interviews, or if you should bring headphones and plan on separating yourself from the fray.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me, your WLA Big Sister, Stephanie and Nitzan, or any WLA members. We are all here for you. See the “Who Worked Where” page on CMS for information on which HLS students worked at which firms. You can always contact students (even if you don’t know them) to ask them about their experiences.

Best of Luck with EIP!
WLA Firms Committee
Tracy Branding (3L – WLA Firms Committee Member)

Bidding advice:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/recruiting-and-job-search-/early-interview-program/strategic-bidding/index.html

EIP statistics:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/researching-employers/fall-oci-statistics/index.html

Core logistics:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/recruiting-and-job-search-/early-interview-program/2012/eip_policies_and_procedures.pdf

Pronunciation guide:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/researching-employers/law-firm-pronunciation-guide/index.html

Compilation of rankings and guides:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/researching-employers/rankings-/index.html

Difference between screener and call-back interviews:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/interviews/on-campus-vs.-callback-interviews/index.html

Dressing guidelines:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/interviews/dressing-for-the-interview/index.html

Ideas for questions at callbacks:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/interviews/callback_questions.pdf

Questions to be ready to answer:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/interviews/questions-employers-may-ask-you/questions-employers-may-ask-you.html

Law Firm Reception Etiquette:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/interviews/law-firm-reception-etiquette/index.html

Podcasts:

https://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/ocs/jd/secure/media-and-online-resources/2012-summer-podcasts/index.html