In the legal profession, summer associate positions provide law students with hands-on experience working for a law firm in the summer after their first or second year of law school. These positions are opportunities to experience life as an attorney firsthand, allowing students to embed themselves in a firm to do much of the same work they will likely do as a full-time associate post-graduation.
Like an apprenticeship, the summer associates work side-by-side with our attorneys and develop an appreciation for the unique aspects of practicing law at WilliamsMcCarthy. Experiencing the culture and clients of Wilmac is not only valuable for the summer associates, but the firm also can assess the abilities of summer associates to be successful once they graduate, pass the bar, and are ready for the practice of law.
Meet James Roddy
James is a law student at the University of Illinois College of Law, completing his summer associate position at WilliamsMcCarthy. We asked James about his experience and what he looks forward to next.
Why did you pursue a summer associate position at WilliamsMcCarthy?
Being from a small town in Northwest Illinois, and having lived in Chicago, Rockford felt like the perfect blend of big and small. So, I decided to look into firms in the area. Then, after researching firms in Rockford and discovering WilliamsMcCarthy’s excellent reputation, I set my sights on WilMac. That positive impression was only further cemented once I had the chance to meet the attorneys here and visit the office. As soon as I left to drive back home, I was sure this was the place for me.
Can you share the most interesting project you worked on this summer?
In one of my projects, I was tasked with helping another associate find a strong cause of action for our client. It was my favorite of the summer because of how open-ended and challenging it was, as there was clearly a case to be made, but it was difficult to ascertain what form it should take. Eventually, we found a viable one which was especially rewarding because of the real impact that it had in helping a client, a feeling that is difficult to find in law school. Plus, working closely with another attorney on the case fit my preferred collaborative style of work, and made me realize that is something I would like to do often.
What are the most valuable lessons you are taking away from your summer associate experience at WilliamsMcCarthy LLP?
My most valuable takeaways are to have a willingness to embrace constructive feedback and to ask questions of the attorneys. The attorneys here are incredibly experienced and knowledgeable, so any feedback they gave me on assignments, good or bad, was helpful. I quickly learned to embrace the feedback and to look for bigger takeaways, as well as to freely ask questions. The open-door policy here is how growth happens for young associates, and it was important for me to internalize that early in the summer.
After law school, in what area(s) of practice are you most interested?
It’s hard for me to say right now. Law school is not an easy place to get a real sense of what practicing a particular area of law is like. Plus, this summer I have enjoyed every type of work I have received, which on the one hand is great, but on the other makes it more difficult to narrow down my interests to certain areas of practice.
Why are you excited to join the WilliamsMcCarthy LLP team?
I’m excited to be part of the future of the firm. The group of attorneys here are so easy to get along with and that’s encouraging on a day-to-day basis, but also in that clients will sense that too and continue to gravitate toward the firm. The personalities here make the everyday working environment strong, but the attorneys are also talented and personable enough to make me excited about the growth of the firm. It truly feels like there is an opportunity here to have my cake and eat it too, to grow my career and feel supported while doing it.
What do you look forward to most about working with WilliamsMcCarthy after graduation and passing the bar?
Having the chance to work with WilliamsMcCarthy is very exciting, particularly now. There are so many attorneys here willing to mentor younger associates, which is exceptionally valuable when starting a career. Rockford in general is an exciting city as well, and I believe it is poised to continue growing and flourishing over the next 5-10 years, partially thanks to all the investments in the city.
WilliamsMcCarthy’s strong presence in Rockford helps to ease the process of establishing myself in a big and growing community, a challenge I’m greatly looking forward to. In all, the bright future of the firm and the city assure me this is the perfect place for me to grow.
