At the beginning of my internship experience at the Middleton Law Firm, I was tasked with the duty of doing basic filing work of documents that came into the office. Some of these documents included medical records such as HIPPA forms, emergency room records, subrogation paperwork, insurance work, general correspondence and more. One of my mentors, the paralegal, informed me of the correct way to complete the filing order and put me to the task for the first couple days. It was very interesting to look at the different paperwork that came in because it taught me a lot about the variety of different cases that the firm handles and made me more accustomed to the nature of the cases as well as their details.
After the basics, I was then given more important jobs such as making calls to insurance companies, clients, and hospitals to discuss cases or ask for paperwork or bills. This was an exciting task because it challenged my communication skills and taught me to be more effective and concise in my verbal communication. It was also interesting to interact with different businesses and see how they operate regarding different tasks. It also made me a better note taker and listener because I had to write down exactly what I heard on the call. In addition, I also got to sit in on meetings with Attorney Middleton, such as client meetings and meetings with other attorneys. This really gave me a lot of good insight into the legal process and how things are conducted before a case can be settled.
In all, my internship experience provided me with many invaluable skills and experiences that have helped further shape my interests towards the legal field. I learned a massive amount of inside information on how personal injury law works and the details of how personal injury cases are approached. The experience that I gained from working in the firm I simply cannot be taught through any lecture in any school, it was truly meaningful in-the-trenches work. I was also able to grow my passion for the legal field by shadowing an attorney and getting a head start in the career I want to pursue. I am extremely thankful to everyone who I worked with in the firm, as the environment was extremely supportive and growth-oriented. I would say that I feel more confident going forward in my pursuit of the legal field.