By: Isabelle Oviedo
The anticipation and preparation for a summer associate adventure can be nerve racking. Talking with my peers about what to expect and creating the big list of to-dos for the summer made me realize I didn’t truly know what was to come. During the first week of my summer with Hinckley Allen, any nerves or anxiety I had anticipated quickly washed away. Immediately, I felt welcomed and accepted by the attorneys and staff. Not only was I met with eager smiles and helpful trainings, but everyone I met expressed genuine interest in me and my legal path.
On top of a perfect beginning, I had a smooth transition to working on complex research projects and learning about dynamic client matters. When working on projects, associates and partners made sure I was in the loop with the client’s situation and background in the matter. This allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of legal procedures as well as new perspectives from various attorneys. The people I worked with also made sure to provide detailed and helpful feedback for my work. Also, the attorneys were generous in telling me when I was doing a good job of something or tackled assignments adequately. There was never a dull moment in my work load and the projects I was assigned felt vital to the work of the attorneys. It was encouraging and motivating to feel a part of such a talented and professional team.
“It was refreshing to see how Hinckley Allen fosters a family style work environment and prioritizes team bonding.”
During the summer events is when I really gained a deeper sense of the community at Hinckley Allen. Everyone was in great spirits and all the attorneys were friendly across all of the Hinckley offices. At the events everyone was so kind and made sure the summer associates felt included. Not to mention, the events themselves were fantastic. From paint night to cocktail tutorials, it was all incredibly unique and loads of laughs were shared even via zoom. Trivia night was most likely my favorite. Engaging in friendly competition and continuing a Hinckley Allen summer legacy was an absolute blast. It was refreshing to see how Hinckley Allen fosters a family style work environment and prioritizes team bonding.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better summer experience. From challenging, fast-paced work to an amazing community, I enjoyed every second of my time with Hinckley Allen. I’m looking forward to growing the connections I created and utilizing the skills I developed this summer.