by Madison Hammond
I might actually want to follow in my dad's footsteps!This summer, following my graduation from the University of Michigan, I had the opportunity to work as a Legal Intern at Hilger Hammond. This experience opened my eyes to the complex and fast-paced nature of law and inspired me to pursue a legal career.
My dad, Benjamin Hammond, is a founding member and partner of the firm, so I grew up surrounded by Hilger Hammond. I remember watching its growth from a two-person operation to the busy and bustling operation it is today. When I was a kid, he always suggested law as a career path, probably due to my contrarian nature. This same propensity for argumentation led me to push back against becoming a lawyer, and in college, I explored different careers, including environmental science and journalism. But by my junior year, law increasingly seemed like a viable and interesting path.
What I did as a legal intern
Over the past few months, I was exposed to every area of the business, from paralegal work to accounting to document management to arbitration, mediation, and litigation. I was able to sit inon client calls, perform legal research, write memorandums, and more.
Working at Hilger Hammond confirmed for me that I truly do want to pursue a career in law. When you find even repetitive tasks interesting, you know that you’ve found something you’re passionate about.
“Whether it’s sorting through hundreds of pages of legal documents, drafting research memos, or making a last-minute drive to Kalamazoo to meet a filing deadline, I enjoyed and took advantage of every opportunity to learn.”
Internship Highlight
One highlight of this internship was the opportunity to meet Judge Jane Beckering, a highly impressive judge for the Western District of Michigan. Hearing Judge Beckering speak about her career and the hard work and dedication it took to get her to where she is today was incredibly inspiring and further solidified my legal aspirations.
This visit would not have been possible without the willingness of attorneys to give interns opportunities not just for learning but also for career development.
Everyone at Hilger Hammond wants you to succeed. Whatever questions I have, someone will be willing and patient enough to answer. If you are given the opportunity and are interested in gaining invaluable experience in the legal field, I would highly recommend interning at Hilger Hammond.
What's Next?
While I am uncertain what the future will hold, I will remain working as an intern at Hilger Hammond into the fall before applying to law school in an upcoming cycle.
