2L Reese Bell interned last summer with Young, Haskins, Mann, Gregory, McGarry & Wall in Martinsville, Virginia. Reese will split his 2L summer between Young Haskins in Martinsville and the Friedman Law Firm in Richmond.
What advice did you get that was particularly helpful in your job search?
Reach out to potential employers. Cold call them. Apply to any position you think would be interesting, rather than relying solely on the school’s resources for employment opportunities (i.e., OCI).
What did you learn in your summer internship? What was your favorite part?
To start, I found out pretty quickly that there’s no need to move to a major city to find suitable, and lucrative work. Many places in southern Virginia, for instance, have relatively high demands for legal services and a limited number of attorneys to share the workload. Given this disparity, I was able to work with many different clients across a number of disciplines within the field of transactional law. I especially enjoyed working on commercial real estate closings in my hometown—playing a direct role in bringing business into a community that desperately needs it was very fulfilling.
How did your summer job help influence your current interests and career aspirations?
It reaffirmed the belief that I have absolutely no interest in doing anything outside of transactional law. The field is incredibly nuanced, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed everything I was able to do over the summer.
How did you land your summer jobs?
I reached out to a UR Law alum in my hometown and asked if they had a spot for a summer intern. Obviously, this approach won’t work for everyone—I was very fortunate to have landed the position. For my 2L position, I attended a number of networking events and reached out to some attorneys I’d met in Richmond.
Which CDO resources or CDO events were particularly helpful during your job search?
Simply meeting with my career advisor and asking questions when they came up. The CDO employs lots of wonderful people who are more than willing to help in finding positions that suit you.
What advice or information would you like to share with other students?
Don’t limit your search to major cities. There are countless opportunities for valuable work experience in places off the beaten path.