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Once students complete their spring quarter finals, many begin a new chapter in their legal education: summer employment. Spread out across the country — and the globe — ºìÌÒÊÓƵ students gain valuable experience in an array of fields that furthers their understanding of the law. This series highlights a handful of ºìÌÒÊÓƵ J.D. students as they head out into the workforce.

In this Series

• Read Part 1: Anna Shumar, 3L, and Elena Hubbell, 2L
• Read Part 2: Lauren Lee, 2L, and Robert Colton, 2L
• Read Part 3: Gracie Pakosz, 3L, and Maxine Sugarman, 3L

Lauren Lee, 2L

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: Where are you working this summer?

Lauren: This summer, I am working as a summer associate at Keller Rohrback L.L.P.’s Seattle Office, specifically in their Complex Litigation Department.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: How did you find out about this opportunity?

Lauren: During the Winter Quarter, I attended the 1L Diversity Fellowship Information Session hosted by Keller Rohrback at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ. At the information session, I got to learn more about the diversity fellowship and ask the three partners about their work. I have a background in government and policy work, and I was ultimately drawn to apply for the position when I heard that KR often represents government entities.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: What type of work are you doing there?

Lauren: In the Complex Litigation department, I have been involved in various projects covering a wide range of subjects. My tasks have ranged from researching potential discriminatory practices within the casino industry to crafting in-depth memos on discovery rules in Maryland. Additionally, I've had the unique experience of coding sampling data through Relativity for an environmental case. Most recently, I had the opportunity to research cybersecurity laws for KR’s Business Group. I am fascinated by the civil procedural rules that span the state and federal cases. Every day, I feel like I gain new insights and context into the cases that the attorneys at KR have spent years on.

I am also KR’s inaugural diversity fellow. At the firm, I have actively engaged with their POC affinity group and have had open conversations with how diversity could be improved in the firm, and legal industry in general. I appreciate the opportunity to have meaningful discussions and community at KR.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: How is this experience preparing you to become a lawyer?

Lauren: My time at Keller Rohrback has been a valuable experience that has helped shape me into a well-rounded lawyer. The firm's emphasis on thinking on one's feet in a collaborative environment has honed my ability to adapt swiftly to new topics and confidently tackle unfamiliar legal areas. Whether it's consumer protection laws, PCB contamination in fish tissue, or data breaches by Facebook, I’ve learned that I don’t need to be an expert to be successful, but rather success is determined by the dedication to learn and grow. By navigating legal research platforms like Westlaw and Lexis, I've acquired skills for my future career.

Furthermore, my exposure to various procedural processes in a case, including the significance of notice, standing, and Rule 23 for Class Actions, has been eye-opening. My 1L class in Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law have come in handy. This past week, the summer associates also had the special opportunity to visit Judge Tana Lin, a previous partner at KR, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Witnessing the firm's dedication to seeking justice for plaintiffs in complex cases has ignited a passion within me. Before my time at KR, I was unaware of the profound impact plaintiff's work can have in righting wrongs. Now, I am hopeful and determined to contribute my skills to a firm that shares these values.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: Do you have any other exciting summer plans?

Lauren: After finishing work in late August, I plan to go to Lucerne Valley, CA, where I'll be working with my church community to volunteer at a jujube farm. I’ll also be going on a trip to Asia to visit friends and family.

Robert Colton, 2L

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: Where are you working this summer?

Robert: I'm working at the National Housing Law Project which is a nonprofit organization seeking to advance housing justice for lower-income individuals and underserved communities by strengthening and enforcing the rights of tenants and low-income homeowners, increasing housing opportunities for underserved communities, and preserving and expanding the nation's supply of safe and affordable homes.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: How did you find out about this opportunity?

Robert: This opportunity was shared with me through my professional network.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: What type of work are you doing there?

Robert: I am supporting NHLP attorneys in their impact litigation and policy advocacy work. With regard to impact litigation, some of the work has included legal research and writing briefs and memos to support cases, such as those:

• Challenging the federal government's unlawful and discriminatory disposition of public land.
• Defending statutes that prohibit discrimination based on the source of income of a rental applicant from Fourth Amendment challenges.
• Defending public housing tenants who were unlawfully evicted causing them to lose their housing subsidy.
• Challenging the disparate racial impact of landlord blanket bans on rental applicants with eviction or criminal histories, and more.

On the policy side, some of the work has included:

• Writing memos and regulatory comment letters supporting NHLP's administrative advocacy efforts with the Federal Housing Finance Agency to enact tenant protections in all federally backed multifamily mortgages in the context of the White House's stated desire to advance national tenant protections through regulatory action.
• Working directly with advocates to ensure that laws seeking to prohibit the use of criminal background information in the rental screening process pass First Amendment muster in the wake of the Ninth Circuit's decision in Yim v. City of Seattle.
• Researching and drafting language in support of efforts to enact federal legislation establishing a tenants bill of rights.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: How is this experience preparing you to become a lawyer?

Robert: My legal research and writing skills, applied in different contexts and across issue areas, have improved significantly in the last couple of months, which was my primary goal for my 1L summer. Additionally, I've been able to work directly with very talented civil rights litigators in various stages of the litigation process which has enabled me to see their different strategies, approaches and styles to managing a lawsuit successfully. In my career, I hope to do work at the intersection of impact litigation and policy work and so seeing firsthand how an organization effectively utilizes both forms of advocacy to advance housing justice has given me a lot of insight into the nature of this work and how to do it well.

ºìÌÒÊÓƵ: Do you have any other exciting summer plans?

Robert: I am traveling to Vienna for a European Law Institute Conference in September and then going to see my family in Latvia for a week which will be a nice way to relax.