Earlier this year, we introduced Rachel Jordan as one of two summer associates joining WilliamsMcCarthy for the summer. Rachel, who grew up in Cary, Illinois, and is entering her 3L year at the University of Illinois College of Law, spent the summer working across the firm’s practice areas with a particular focus on Family Law. Now, as she heads back to Urbana-Champaign, we asked her to look back on the experience, share what she learned, and pass along advice to other law students considering the summer associate path.
Looking back on your summer at WilliamsMcCarthy, what stands out most? Was there a particular project, matter, or moment where something clicked about the practice of law?
The times I was able to interact with clients were really insightful this summer. Whether it was in a meeting or before a hearing, getting to participate in the conversations with the clients to learn their perspective and what mattered most to them helped me grasp the bigger picture of practicing law.
It can be easy to get lost in the routine of researching an issue and writing a motion on the argument based solely on what we would think is the most important issue. It’s really important to remember that what may seem like a small issue from the outside can be the most important part of the case for that client. Having those experiences helped remind me that being a lawyer is more than working to convince a judge or jury of the client’s case; it is also making sure the client feels seen and heard while they are going through their legal issue.
You came in especially interested in Family Law. How did that hold up in practice, and were there any other areas of the firm’s work that surprised you?
Getting to work on Family Law cases and go to hearings definitely reaffirmed my passion for that practice area. It was very interesting to see how different each of the family cases I worked on was, even when I was doing the same assignment on different cases.
Outside of Family Law, I also really enjoyed researching niche areas of property, employment, estates, and civil procedure. It was a great learning experience to dive deeper into topics that I had briefly covered in class to see how they operate in real cases.
What is something you can do now, as a soon-to-be 3L, that you couldn’t do at the start of the summer?
My memo writing skills have definitely improved since the beginning of the summer. I had to adjust my writing style to draft memos that fully explained the law I was researching but were concise and clear for the attorney.
In honing my writing skills, I feel my research has also improved. As I began drafting a memo and found that whichever case I was using did not give me as clear language as I needed, I would go back to Westlaw to narrow my search to find a case that fit my argument better.
Who at the firm did you learn the most from, and what did they teach you?
I learned a lot from Attorney Tyler Slack this summer. Knowing I am interested in Family Law, Tyler made a great effort to make sure I was getting work across the different areas of the practice. He also took me to several hearings to see how differently cases may resolve, from going through examinations of witnesses to negotiating a settlement before the hearing starts.
Attorney John Holevas also taught me a lot about the practice of law this summer. Whenever John gave me an assignment, he took the time to provide a base knowledge of the particular area of law I would be researching so I was not starting from ground zero. Even if he was not giving me an assignment, John would stop by my office to explain an interesting or nuanced area of the law that he was working on just to help expand my knowledge about civil procedure or trial practice, which we don’t always learn in school.
What was the most useful piece of feedback you received this summer, and how has it changed the way you approach your work?
The best piece of feedback I received this summer was to go back through my drafts and cut filler words that are unnecessary to the argument. Oftentimes, filler words in memos make the analysis more confusing than if the sentences were concise and to the point.
Going back through my drafts with an eye to cut unneeded words helped me hone my legal writing on the first drafts of my work as well. When I am working on my first writing, I am more aware of the words and phrases that I cut in my second edit, so I avoid including them in the first place.
You told us in June you were looking forward to getting to know Rockford. What did you find? Any favorite spots, restaurants, or things you’d recommend to someone new to the area?
One of my favorite spots I discovered this summer was the Edgebrook Farmers Market on Wednesdays. It was so nice to head over there during lunch, spend time in the sun, and shop from local vendors. I have also really liked many of the restaurants I have gone to with everyone from WilliamsMcCarthy like Woodfire, Lucha Cantina, Sisters Thai, and Fresco at the Gardens.
For a law student thinking about applying to be a summer associate, what advice would you pass along?
I would tell someone considering applying to be a summer associate to not be afraid to ask questions. Starting a new job can often feel like you have to know everything right away, but the attorneys are here to help you navigate the assignments they give you. Going and talking through what you have found and what you are still struggling with can often help pull out the issue, because the attorney can explain it in a new way or reframe the question. Everyone at WilliamsMcCarthy wants you to succeed, and they will help along the way
We wish Rachel the best as she begins her 3L year at the University of Illinois College of Law, and we look forward to watching where her career takes her next.
