Internship Period: May 23, 2011 to July 22, 2011
At Kim & Bae, P.C., there are plenty of opportunities to learn and take on responsibilities. No matter how long or short your commitment will be, the experiences you get will differ dramatically based on what you expect and are willing to do. During the nine weeks I spent at Kim & Bae, P.C. I was able to get a satisfactory work experience. Furthermore, I was able to make some very important reflections about work ethics and professionalism.
Be Responsible
Law offices, like any other organizations, require high level of teamwork. Full dedication and effort of each and every staff and attorney is essential, as every word, thought, and action will have an impact on the client’s case. When one dismisses their responsibilities and stop putting their best effort, that one person’s negligence or lack of effort can jeopardize the lives of clients and perhaps the operation of the law firm. Therefore, whatever you do and however miniscule or of no significance your work may seem, you need to put your best effort in what you do and be responsible.
Be Aggressive
The amount of work load and the quality of work interns get varies dramatically depending on how much you ask for and how efficiently and satisfactorily you handle each task. This is an obvious observation but how you approach work determines the quality of experience you will have. You need to be aggressive and greedy when it comes to work and give meaning to every little task that is given to you. However, internships usually last four weeks or longer. It is important that you know how to pace yourself so that your learning process is not stagnant as the week progresses but also that you don’t burn out from the beginning.
Final Thoughts
Beyond the work experience, the most important lesson I learned from Kim & Bae, P.C. is to always put people in the center. Whether it is the client, the judge, the opposing counsel or staffs in the office, law firms operate through communicating and interacting with people. Knowing the value of people and treating all with respect should be the basis for every action we take in every aspect of life.
Finally, I would like to thank Kim & Bae, P.C. for giving me the opportunity to learn more, think more and do more to advance my career objectives and grow personally. Working at Kim & Bae has been a positive challenge that pushed me forward. For that and for the hospitality Kim & Bae and its wonderful people showed me, thank you.
