Each summer, WilliamsMcCarthy welcomes law students into the firm to work alongside our attorneys, take on real assignments, and get a feel for what practicing law looks like day to day. It is part apprenticeship, part introduction to the firm’s clients and culture, and it’s one of the ways we invest in the next generation of attorneys in northern Illinois.
This year, we are pleased to introduce Courtney Specht and Rachel Jordan.
Courtney Specht is entering her 3L year at Northern Illinois University College of Law. Courtney is returning to WilliamsMcCarthy for a second summer, which says something about both her and the firm. A Rockford native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in government with an emphasis in legal studies in Phoenix before returning home for law school.
“I wanted to return to WilliamsMcCarthy because I had such a positive experience last summer,” she said. “Rockford is where I was born and raised, so naturally it feels like home to me. I genuinely enjoy the people I get to work with each day. I have learned a lot from being around attorneys and staff who work hard, care about what they do, and have made me feel comfortable asking questions and learning as I go.”
Last summer, Courtney focused largely on litigation work, which confirmed her interest in pursuing a litigation-focused practice. This summer, she is looking to broaden her exposure, particularly in transactional areas like real estate. “Having experience in both areas will help me become a more well-rounded attorney,” she said.
Outside of work, Courtney is spending time with family and friends, traveling, going to concerts, and (in her words) “very much in the learning stage” of pickleball.
Rachel Jordan is entering her 3L year at the University of Illinois College of Law. She grew up in Cary, Illinois, and studied English and History at Villanova University before law school. Rachel has been thinking about a legal career since high school, drawn to the role lawyers play in helping people navigate the biggest moments of their lives.
She chose WilliamsMcCarthy with intention. “I knew I wanted to find a firm outside of Chicago that would give me opportunities to learn, and WilliamsMcCarthy was the right fit,” she said. The firm’s range of practice areas and roots in the community were a big part of the draw.
Rachel is especially interested in Family Law this summer and is looking forward to seeing how motions, discovery, and hearings unfold in practice. She’s also keeping an open mind. “I have always been the type of person who likes learning new things, so I am excited to work on projects across the different practice areas at WilliamsMcCarthy,” she said.
Outside of the office, Rachel is a serious reader (mysteries and beach reads, in particular) and an accomplished vocalist who has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony Center, and La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Summer associate programs are powerful because they work for both parties. Our summer associates get real responsibility, meaningful mentorship, and a clear view of what a career at a firm like WilliamsMcCarthy feels like. In return, we get to know talented law students at a formative point in their careers, and they help shape the future of this firm.
That formative quality is something Courtney has clearly internalized. Asked what advice she would give to a first-time summer associate, she put it this way:
“It is completely normal not to know how to do something when you have never done it before, and asking for guidance is a part of learning. At the same time, it is important to trust yourself and have confidence in your ability to figure things out. You are in this field for a reason, and once you get started on something, you may realize you know more than you initially thought.”
We are glad to have Courtney and Rachel with us this summer!
