Our 2021 Winter Clerkship Program brought six law students for an intellectually challenging and professionally gratifying experience. The program normally takes places during the summer, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearing the end of the program, the students agreed to share a few highlights from their experience at Shutts.
Raymond joined us from the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he is Managing Senior Editor of the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy. Raymond was previously an Extern for Magistrate Judge Michael G. Gotsch, Sr. with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. He was also an intern for Judge Alan Orantes Forst in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal.
Here is what Raymond had to say about his clerkship at Shutts.
How did you decide to pursue this position?
I learned of Shutts during my 1L year and later applied for the 2L Summer Associate Program. It was Shutts’s reputation as a premier Florida law firm with diverse practice areas that first piqued my interest, but, after my callback interview, I knew that Shutts was my top choice. All of the attorneys with whom I met were not only professional and accomplished but also down-to-earth and genuine. Because I wanted to both work for a reputable law firm and surround myself with good people with whom I would enjoy working, I knew that Shutts would be the perfect fit.
Describe a typical day on the job.
Because of the nature of remote work, there was no typical day on the job. On some days, I would have the opportunity to attend client meetings, webinars, or court hearings over Zoom. On other days, I would focus on completing assignments that I received from different attorneys. On any day, attorneys in the office were available to speak about any questions I had about my assignments or life at the firm, which made my remote experience more personable and rewarding.
What were your expectations and have they been met (or exceeded)?
I expected to be able to experiment with different areas of the law, learn from talented attorneys, and gain firsthand knowledge of legal practice. All of these expectations were met during the program. I will certainly benefit from the perspective I have gained, and I look forward to implementing the knowledge and skills that I learned from the attorneys in the Ft. Lauderdale office in my future practice.
What challenge(s) did the pandemic present for your clerkship? How did you overcome those challenges?
The pandemic introduced a lot of uncertainty, but Shutts did a wonderful job of staying connected with the clerks during the program and ensuring that they were receiving an appropriate amount of work. Moreover, I knew that working remotely would make it difficult to benefit from the mentorship opportunities that typically take place in-person. Thankfully, the attorneys in the Ft. Lauderdale office were very generous with their time. I was able to utilize Zoom to meet with many of them and receive their advice as I completed my clerkship.
About Shutts & Bowen LLP
Established in 1910, Shutts & Bowen is a full-service business law firm with approximately 300 lawyers with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Learn more about Shutts & Bowen at www.shutts.com.