Concluding Remarks on Internship at Laffineur Law Firm

My internship experience at Laffineur law firm has been a rewarding and life changing experience. Initially, I was unsure of whether law was the proper career path for me. As a senior at Western Kentucky University, who will be graduating at the end of this year, I was not quite yet decided what I intended to do after graduation came. This internship, to me, represented a make or break decision. I was either going to thoroughly enjoy the experience, therefore solidifying my decision to pursue law school, or this opportunity was going to be an eye opening experience that would make me realize that law school was not the career path planned for me. Fortunately, the incredible experience at Laffineur law firm has proven to me that law is a perfect fit for my interests, career path, and overall life goals. Without this opportunity, I would not have had the chance to test the waters and experience time working in a law firm before actually entering law school. Through this internship, I have decisively come to important conclusions in the end solidifying and reassuring my decision to enter law school. If this program were required for all students, giving them a chance to experience time working in their potential career field, I feel students, like myself, would have more confidence and assurance when pursuing post-graduate education or employment after graduation.   


The major tasks that I was employed with while at Laffineur law firm included, firstly, providing the staff with daily press monitoring. This encompassed the searching for and summarization of press articles that were, most importantly, relevant to Laffineur law firm. Next, another of my daily tasks included editing English-language documents. Because the lawyers at Laffineur law firm do not speak English as their first language, they would provide me with the task of reviewing and then editing their work. In addition, on occasion, I was given the task of summarizing law cases. I would be sent a law case, read and synthesise the material, and then produce a summary. Thirdly, I was assigned the task of developing a presentation for Mr. Jean-Luc Laffineur in order to prepare him for the speech he gave at the International Wine Law Association in Brussels.

This internship has helped me when I needed it most, at the most opportune time, in helping me to decide on my post-graduation plans. What is also worth mentioning is not only the effect this internship has had on me, but those around me. I have already had students and friends from my home university of Western Kentucky University, reach out to me wanting to know more about the internship program at Vesalius College and the work that I am doing at Laffineur law firm. It is extremely pleasing and rewarding to know that this experience has had an effect on not only me, but those around me and back at home in Bowling Green, Kentucky.