Why did you choose to work with one of the clinics? And why did you choose the externship program?
I came to law school not knowing exactly what career I wanted—it was between either litigation or transactional law. After my summer internships—I studied abroad in Beijing in my 1L summer, and in my 2L summer I worked at the Department of Justice—I realized that although I enjoyed litigation, there are aspects of it that did not fit my personality. Since I didn’t have another summer to figure out if I wanted to do transactional work, I applied to the externship program. I had taken courses in corporate law, but I wasn’t sure if it would be the right fit for me. I wanted to try it out before committing to it in my career.
What was your externship placement and your role there?
I was an intern at the Securities and Exchange Commission, so I assisted different staff attorneys with research projects in respect to the securities laws. The attorneys gave us facts about the activities of certain individuals or groups and asked us to research the applicable securities laws, if the activity was permitted under the securities law, and if not, what kind of action the SEC could take.
What was your most memorable experience in your placement, and why?
I want to be involved with securities law in my practice because I realized the role of the law in protecting people. I remember a particular case where a man had advertised a fraudulent scheme. Many of the people who bought into his scheme had put in all their savings. When we were interviewing them to get enough evidence to petition the court for a temporary restraining order on the man, I realized how the securities laws protected investors. We were able to get a restraining order, and I hope that minimized the risk of loss that those consumers—people who bought into the scheme—suffered.
A majority of the work I did was research-based, but I also participated in witness interviews and watched some of the proceedings at court. If there was a trial, I watched; that was a great learning process. We were always given the opportunity to sit in on Commission meetings and on depositions—whatever our time would allow.
The work was very different from classes because you’re dealing with real people, real cases. In law school you read about cases and it feels far removed, but when you read about people who buy into different financial schemes, people who violate the law, you see a direct impact.
What did you gain from participating in the program?
I realized that I really liked securities law. It incited in me an interest to pursue a career in corporate law. From a broader perspective, my esteem for the law and our legal system was reaffirmed.
Did your externship experience help you in your job search?
Yes, because I was much more focused in my interview—I knew I wanted to do corporate law, and I could tell them why I wanted to do it and show them with my resume that I’m dedicated to that goal.
