Law students do a lot of learning, but law school classes do not teach all the skills a future attorney needs to be successful in their practice. There lies the value of the summer internship, and I could not have gotten luckier with mine.
In just my first few weeks working at Neuberger, Griggs, Sweet & Froehle, LLP, I sat in on client meetings, attended hearings, watched multiple depositions, wrote letters and memos for clients, drafted estate planning documents, and researched numerous legal questions. When you are doing real work around talented people, it is impossible not to learn and improve yourself. Although I learned a lot this summer, there are three particularly useful lessons that my summer at NGSF helped me realize. First, practicing law is about relationships. Second, good people make a great firm. Finally, lawyers provide a service that extends beyond the bounds of a technical practice area.
The Relationships
In law school, students learn about the law with a focus on litigation and adversarial processes. This summer, however, I saw that practicing law can be highly collaborative. Whether it is working with a family to draft estate planning documents that will serve their goals or even working with opposing counsel in a divorce to achieve a settlement, teamwork is a common theme throughout legal practice. A strong advocate can still be, and perhaps must be, a team player. It was encouraging to learn and witness firsthand that practicing law can in many ways be a team sport.
The People
When you ask attorneys why they choose to work where they do, they often say it is because of the people they work with. This summer, however, I witnessed a team of people who work exceptionally well together. Working well together, as I learned, is more than just producing a good work product. It is also a matter of caring about the people you work with and supporting them through their work and beyond.
From my observations this summer, having a supportive team of people who like working with each other running a law firm is good for clients. Not only does this kind of environment help retain talent – of which NGSF has plenty – but it keeps things running smoothly. The busy calendars, frequent phone ringing, and many clients in the offices each day are a testament to the people who make NGSF such an asset to its clients and community.
The Service
Lawyers are certainly experts in their practice areas, whether its family law, probate, civil litigation, or more. But before most else, lawyers are listeners and counselors. I witnessed many hard conversations this summer, with themes ranging from family arguments to bankruptcy to the death of a child or other loved one. I watched the attorneys at NGSF practice skills that we certainly do not talk about, much less learn, in law school. Returning to law school and eventually entering legal practice understanding the importance of people skills to practicing law will make me a better lawyer someday. These are skills that are not learned from a book or a lecture, and I am grateful to have gained exposure to the “soft” – but equally important – skills of lawyering this summer.
Beyond interacting with clients, a successful law firm needs to be present for and serve its community. This work is deeper than simply putting money in an envelope and sponsoring an event. It requires building lasting relationships, being an active member of community organizations, donating time to community building efforts, and so much more. Throughout the summer, I watched NGSF attorneys and staff meaningfully engage in and truly enjoy these kinds of extra efforts within the communities where the firm operates. Particularly as someone who grew up among the communities that NGSF serves, I am grateful to have spent the summer working for a firm made up of people who so clearly value their community.
I know I will return to campus this fall with insights that I would never find on the pages of my law textbooks. My time at NGSF was invaluable in my development as a future lawyer, and I am so grateful to the people who shared their time, patience, professionalism, and knowledge with me this summer. This was truly a summer of learning, and I could not be more thankful for it.
Jess Jurcek
J.D. Candidate 2026
University of Wisconsin Law School