Catherine – Extern
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Catherine, and I am a 3L student at Cardozo Law in New York. I am an extern at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. I initially heard about Adam Leitman Bailey when he was hired as an attorney on a case in my community. I heard that he is a fierce attorney, a great litigator, and a strong attorney, and I knew that’s where I wanted to work.
What do you do as an extern at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C.?
As an extern at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C., I’m given various tasks every week. These tasks include research assignments, drafting court documents such as summons and complaints, filing documents, and doing due diligence.
What is your day-to-day at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C.?
The day-to-day at Adam Leitman Bailey is different each day. You never know what to expect, which is interesting. You get new cases and different types of tasks, so you’re always on your toes. You practice various skills, and it’s a great learning environment. It’s very collaborative, and everyone is very willing to help students. The open-door policy here allows you to ask questions freely.
What did you love most about working at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C.?
What I really loved about working at Adam Leitman Bailey is the substance of the work you get. I’ve worked in other firms where you’re not really working on real cases, just tasks. But here, the attorneys really trust you to help them with the actual cases they’re working on, and you feel like you’re a part of the team. The work you get here makes you feel like a real attorney. You’re given independence, and you can take on assignments from start to finish. You’re trusted here, and you feel like you’re more than just a student.
How has your experience at Adam Leitman Bailey been despite the challenges of the pandemic?
Working during the global pandemic has definitely had its challenges in my previous experiences, but at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C., the firm has really focused on making the experience as normal as possible. Even with different COVID regulations, all the attorneys are in the office, and you can speak to them in person, over email, or by phone. The pandemic hasn’t affected the efficiency of the work here, which I’ve really appreciated.
What skills have you gained from working at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C.?
Working at Adam Leitman Bailey has really taught me how to ask the right questions, more pointed questions. It has also given me the foundational knowledge of real estate law. When I open a document now, I know exactly what I should be looking for. While I may not know exactly what to do, I now know how to approach an attorney and ask where to go next with the assignment. The most important skill I’ve learned here is understanding why you’re doing an assignment, rather than just completing a task. Knowing why gives you the background to dive deeper into the details and provide stronger analysis, especially when writing documents where persuasion is required.
What do clients appreciate most about Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C.?
Clients come to Adam Leitman Bailey because of the personalized approach the attorneys take. In bigger firms, you get a team of attorneys, and you don’t always know who is working on your case. But here, you know exactly who you’re working with, and the attorney will always follow up with you. You’ll always be kept in the loop about what’s going on, which I think big clients really appreciate. Communication with clients is significantly emphasized here, and clients feel comfortable reaching out to attorneys with questions. This open-door communication is a key reason clients love working with Adam Leitman Bailey.
What is your favorite practice area?
My favorite practice area is probably landlord-tenant law because it’s very client-facing. While real estate law has various practice areas, landlord-tenant law really allows you to meet with your clients, discuss issues, and work from there.
What has been your most rewarding experience?
Although I really enjoyed all the research assignments, I think the most rewarding experience has been drafting a summons and complaint from scratch. It’s something I’d never done before, and it’s not something you typically learn in law school. No one really sits down and teaches you how to do it, but I had the opportunity to do that here.
What advice would you give to an incoming extern?
My advice to any incoming extern at Adam Leitman Bailey is to take on as many different types of assignments as you can. You never know what you’ll end up enjoying, and you might surprise yourself. Even if you know you want to focus on real estate law, I’d still say pick Adam Leitman Bailey because you will really learn here. You’ll have a mentor, people you can ask questions, and you’ll be guided not only in your career as an extern but also as a lawyer in general, wherever you may end up.