The most impressive thing about 1450 Brickell isn’t the lavish furniture, the assortment of food within walking distance, or its proximity to the water- it’s the culture. When I was applying to law firms for this summer, I received a lot of advice from classmates, alum, and especially career services, about what makes a firm a good fit. For some it’s the opportunities, the location, or that inexplicable fit. Many often settle in one regard to improve another. For me, Bilzin Sumberg has checked all the boxes.

When I spoke to interviewers about their experiences and the “vibe” they got from the Firm, they all echoed the same idea. Bilzin was not the soulless, corporate machine you see depicted in movies. It had character and soul beyond that of any ordinary, cookie-cutter firm. When I spoke to a past Summer, they really honed in on the general, pleasant ambiance that the Firm emanated. So pleasant in fact, that they Summered twice and are coming back full-time, as have many of the Summers I had the pleasure of reading through this blog. Their main takeaway for me though was the Firm’s unique position- far removed from the infamous New York, rotating door, poor work-life balance situation, a fact that several Associates have also echoed during my time here.

When I was interviewing for the position, I was told that if you wanted professional development from a job- like a mentor- and they weren’t willing or able to give you those opportunities, that may not be the place for you. Through the Firm’s single office structure and culture, not only have I had an awesome mentor assigned to me, but opportunity has been abundant. There are no phone calls with attorneys from other offices, whom you’ve likely never met. Nor do you receive constant work from other cities because your firm is located in Miami but primarily deals with out-of-state matters.

It’s also likely this same formula for success that has made many call the Firm a family. This was made especially clear to me at the first week’s reception, where everyone came together to let their hair down and get to know the Summers better. You could tell that everyone was already acquainted with one another, either in their own practice group, through interdisciplinary work, or just because they got along. They were webs that formed a family.

The culture at Bilzin was one of the big drawing points for me to apply and accept the position. It was demonstrated by those I interviewed and interacted with, and echoed by everyone I’ve spoken to during my time here. To anyone reading this blog while applying, as I did, and wondering if Bilzin would be a good fit for you, 9 times out of 10, the answer is yes.