“You can really come to him (Adam) with any question and he’d be happy to answer it” – Gabrielle, Extern
My name is Gabrielle Breen. I’m an extern in the Transactions Department at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. I’m also a 3L at Syracuse University College of Law.
The interview process was pretty quick overall. What I really liked about it was that it wasn’t just an attorney who interviewed me. There was actually an extern who sat in on the interview process, and this extern happened to have gone to Syracuse as well. I went into the interview a little nervous, but knowing that someone on the other side had gone through the same process I did was reassuring.
Day-to-day tasks vary. I come in each day and don’t have a set routine, so I just check in with my supervisor, Jason, to figure out what I should do. Some days, I could be drafting UCC ones, other days I could be going to a closing. It really depends on the week and the workload, but I enjoy the variety. There’s always something different to do, whether it’s due diligence, reviewing contracts, closing documents, or other tasks.
In our Transactions Department, I know that Rosemary and Jason are at the top of their field. If I ever had any questions, they were more than happy to help and guide me through the process. It was nice to know I had mentors to look up to in the legal field.
I think the most valuable part of this externship has been the practical experience. With some other externships, the tasks are more restrained—you’re not actually going to closings or working with real documents for real clients. But here, you’re immersed in it all, which I think is really great.
I would absolutely recommend this externship to others. For anyone just starting out here, my advice would be: don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you still have questions after asking your supervisor, don’t hesitate to go to Adam or another attorney. They have a wealth of knowledge, and you can dive into any topic you want, especially in real estate. For example, I recently asked Jason about a wire fraud issue that didn’t have much to do with what we were working on, but he was fantastic at explaining everything I needed to know, and now I’ll carry that knowledge with me.
The environment here is extremely welcoming. From the first day, everyone from the staff to the attorneys made me feel welcome. They introduced themselves, showed me around the office—it really goes a long way as a new extern. Adam is also great. He really knows his stuff, and you can go to him with any question, and he’ll be happy to answer. He expects the best from everyone, which is why it’s important to ask questions and make sure that what you give him is your best work as well.