My summer experience at WRPR was
professional, challenging, and fulfilling.
I began my second year of law school looking for a firm that is compatible with my career goals, personality, and work-life balance needs. In turn, Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci, S.C. seeks to identify a summer associate who is willing to work hard, learn, and relocate to the Northwestern part of Wisconsin to become a contributing member of the Firm. During my callback interview, I knew WRPR was the right fit for me because I saw how collegial the Firm atmosphere was and how closely the attorneys worked together. The callback interview and hiring decision included all the attorneys, partners as well as associates. Having worked in other law firms, I knew this sort of firm atmosphere and decision-making process was unique. I grew up around the Eau Claire area and was excited to return home to be a part of the WRPR Summer 2009 Clerkship Program.
My summer experience at WRPR was professional, challenging, and fulfilling. I rotated through the Firm’s three major areas of practice: labor and employment, litigation, and business. The rotation allowed me to meet every member of the Firm, including the researchers and support staff, and work on a project for almost every attorney. From the first day, I received real projects of real concern to the clients. These projects enhanced my legal research and writing skills and gave me the opportunity to excel beyond the substantive law that I learned in school.
In addition to conducting research and drafting legal memos, I had the opportunity to attend many client events outside of the Firm. These included client meetings, bargaining sessions, interest arbitrations, depositions, hearings, trials, small claims proceedings, and networking events. The projects mixed with the events gave me a realistic view of the practice of law and allowed me to get to know the attorneys on an individual basis.
The attorneys at WRPR are knowledgeable and caring individuals who work together as a team to create the Firm’s nurturing environment. The attorneys understand that law students can only learn so much in the classroom, and they use the summer program as a means to start preparing their summer associates to become lawyers. Throughout the summer, the attorneys took the time to explain different cases to me and provided me with meaningful feedbacks on my projects so I understood what I was doing well and what I could do to improve. They were never too busy for my questions and always made sure each project or event was a new learning experience.
Overall, WRPR provides a pleasant work environment, a comfortable lifestyle, challenging work, and opportunities to excel. These qualities are exactly in line with what I want for my work environment as an attorney. I received an offer at the end of the summer, and I look forward to returning home and working at WRPR upon graduation.
If you are interested in clerking at WRPR or would like to know more about my clerking experience, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
MaiVue K. Xiong
