Last night we had our last practice group outing, and it was awesome. The Real Estate group’s summer associate event was a scavenger hunt in Brickell City Center. We were divided into four teams and the goal
2019 summer associate program
Building Relationships — NOT “Generating Business”
Throughout the summer we have been reminded of how important it is to build relationships throughout the community — someone who truly embodies this statement is Scott Baena. Last week, my fellow summer associates and I had the chance to have lunch with Scott at Seaspice. With a beautiful view of the Miami…
Ten at Three: An Attorney Shares Words of Wisdom With the Summer Associates
In the final weeks of the summer associate program, we had the opportunity to debrief with an experienced attorney at the firm—Marshall Pasternack. In his infamous “10 at 3” meeting, Marshall took time out of his busy day to share some of the things he’s learned throughout his career with myself and…
(Sold on a) Monday Book Club
A few weeks ago, the other Summer Associates and I went to lunch with Michelle Weber. We all listened intently as Brian described his interest in space photography and Kayla confessed her love of horror films. This summer, one of my goals was to read more books. After mentioning a few books I recently…
The Annual Summer Associate Golf Tournament (aka “The Masters”)
It’s hard to believe, but the end of the summer program at Bilzin Sumberg is fast approaching! We’ve enjoyed 6 weeks of happy hours, lunches, and creative after-work events that have kept us on our toes (ahem axe throwing) and provided us with valuable opportunities to…
Axes & Attorneys
When the other summer associates and I first saw “Axe Throwing with the Corporate Department” on our calendars at the beginning of the summer, we had no idea what to expect. But that didn’t stop us! On Tuesday night we showed up to Extreme Axe Throwing in downtown Miami, ready for what the evening had in store. After watching the “Axeperts” give a brief demonstration and go over some very minor safety concerns, it was time to throw some axes!
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Lunch and Learn: How Food Connects Summer Associates with Attorneys
Time is flying by! It’s mid-June, and even though it’s hard to believe, we’re already more than halfway through the summer associate program at Bilzin Sumberg. Considering that the last 4 weeks have been packed with interesting assignments, fun after-work events, and informative lunches, I figured now would be a good time to reflect…
Getting Down to Business
Now that we are officially half-way through the summer (time flies!), I think it is a good time to reflect on some of the assignments that I have had so far. As someone who was not entirely sure what practice group I was interested in when I began the summer, having the opportunity to take…
What Law School Doesn’t Show Us
Law school teaches us how to analyze a case, what study habits work best, and how to prioritize time. However one thing my 1L year did not teach me is what to expect at a local government meeting or litigation hearing.
In the last week, I have attended a city commission meeting with the Bilzin Sumberg Land Use department and a hearing for the Litigation department. Both experiences highlighted the importance of over preparation and being able to adjust to changing circumstances.
We arrived to the City of Miami commission meeting nearly an hour ahead of time so we could set up and organize our materials. Although I have attended local government meetings before, I was unsure of what to expect. We did not know when our item would be heard or how long it would take. But while we waited, I was able to hear from dozens of community members as they spoke about the issues that mattered to them. Then when our item came up, the team had to be prepared to find any document or board that proved relevant all within the few minutes allotted to speak. Prior to learning about the Land Use department, I was not aware that an area of law like this even existed. In just a few weeks, I have learned about procurement and how lawyers practicing in this area often attend meetings like these as another form of advocating for their clients.
The importance of preparation proved instrumental at the civil court hearing I attended as well. This was my first time at the Miami-Dade County Court House. When the case was called, Jake Greenberg allowed me to stand with him as he addressed the judge to really get the full effect. Although the hearing lasted no more than fifteen minutes, I was able to see how crucial it is to familiarize yourself with your case. Curveballs can come up and as a lawyer, you have to be prepared to answer questions and advocate for your client.
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A Contract to Save the World
As we enter Phase II of the mock real estate transaction, negotiations are heating up! INEVITABLE, LLC, comprised of Brian Trujillo and Kayla Hernandez (a.k.a. supervillain Thanos), is trying its best to thwart STARK, LLC’s plan to save the world. But the STARK team, led by Franco Piccinini, Sophia Guzzo, and Jordan…