Summer Law Clerk at Bridgehouse

I stepped into my Summer Law Clerk role at Bridgehouse Law, LLP with one year of law school behind me and experience in civil litigation as a Florida Registered Paralegal. While the transferable skills were helpful, I had to adjust to my new role as a future attorney. The attorneys encouraged the interns to think about the implications of our work on future steps in the case, rather than having our focus solely on completing the task at hand. Under the attorneys' guidance, I could make confident, creative choices and influence strategic decisions. I had the privilege of speaking with prospective clients—some of whom became clients. 

As I had anticipated, my favorite experiences were those involving employment law. This summer I was able to return emails and calls with concrete plans on behalf of our attorneys. I contributed to chipping away at the obstacles that stand before clients, which is precisely why I decided to go to law school in the first place. I was responsible for intake calls, research, contacting regulatory agencies, and even the initial drafting of Complaints.

Additionally, I gained knowledge on immigration, corporate formation, and some domestic landlord-tenant matters. Information from each of these fields contributed to my understanding of the others. I spent a good portion of my time working on employment-based visas, including a national interest waiver, and assisting with troubleshooting unique issues that popped up along the way. I am grateful for the calls I was able to sit in on, court events I observed, and “field trips” to the Sheriff’s Office and Register of Deeds.

Last but not least, I had an incredible time working alongside my fellow Summer Law Clerks. I benefited from knowledge of classes I had not yet taken, received assistance whenever I hit a wall in my research, and was able to offer my own insight when needed. Both the attorneys and my fellow law students were kind and supportive. I can only hope to have such clever and collaborative coworkers when I step into the workforce after graduation. 

As my summer comes to a close, I would like to extend my gratitude for this incredible opportunity and all that the entire office contributed to my growth as a professional and as an individual. They each took the time to explain their work to me carefully, answer my many questions, and offer advice. While I have valuable experiences to add to my resume, the true accomplishments from this summer cannot be contained to a bullet-point list. There are principles and customs that are not written in any book and are far more valuable than one particular technical skill. The practice of law is not just the papers passed between counsel or the files submitted to the court, but the care of those holding the pen and the trust of the clients we serve.

Kaley Joe Vandergriff, Law Clerk, BridgehouseLaw Charlotte