During each law firm visit, Lex students discover a legal field and analyze a real case.
The law firm visits give fellows an insight on what the day to day life of lawyers looks like. During each firm visit, Lex students meet with attorneys, learn directly from them about the nature of their work and specific area of legal practice, and answer the students’ questions. The attorneys will then provide any pertinent background information the students need before presenting a real-world case, usually one the attorneys have worked on themselves, for the students to analyze with guidance from the Legal Associate.
The Fellows will analyze the case and brainstorm possible rulings/outcomes. Lex students present their analysis to the attorneys, who then inform the cohort on the actual ruling on the case. The attorneys and Legal Associate then take time to answer any questions students have to bring all of the information gained that day full circle.
Lex students discussing a case during law firm visit (Madrid, Spain).
Firm Visit Structure
INTRODUCTION
Attorney introducing his firm, practice area, and case (Rome, Italy).
During the morning law firm visit, lawyers begin by introducing their firm, practice area, and a case their firm has previously worked on.
EVALUATION
Legal Associate answering questions about a case (Rome, Italy).
Fellows work to analyze the case with the help of their Legal Associate. They are given questions to answer, a client to represent, and teams to work with.
PRESENTATION
Lex students presenting their findings on a case (Rome, Italy).
Fellows present their findings. The lawyers will explain the outcome of the case, provide feedback, and answer any remaining questions.
Attorney presenting his firm’s field & case specifics (Rome, Italy).
Lex students understand the realities of a life as a lawyer.
Different types of lawyers may have different daily routines and Lex Fellows see that firsthand. Attorneys share what their early mornings consist of, how they manage their workload during business hours, and how they balance court appearances with focused work time.
Exploring a wide breadth of types of law firms is very informative and eye opening for students. Students are able to truly compare and contrast different types of law as well as learn about some field areas they may not have experience in. Exploring a wide breadth of legal concentrations gives students a general idea of what the life of a practicing lawyer looks like, thus helping students decide if a career in the legal field is right for them.
Law students learn through case analysis, and so do Lex students.
The main measurement for success in law school is not simply intelligence, but the ability to read, analyze, and understand case law. Begin developing this skill now to equip yourself for success later. Lex case studies are generally presented by the lawyers who argued them. Not only do our students get exposure to a variety of legal fields through this hands-on structure, but they also gain the skills necessary to be successful law students.
Attorney leads case analysis discussion (Washington, D.C.).
Lex Students at a law firm visit (Rome, Italy).
Lex students gain hands-on experience in a variety of practice areas.
With the knowledge of the international attorneys Lex partners with and the help of the Legal Associates, students are able to see how law comes full circle and is interconnected regardless of where students eventually practice. Seeing the daily routines of lawyers in various fields helps students see what type of law they're interested in and if a career in the legal field is for them. Ultimately, students take away enough experience and knowledge to obtain internships, thus increasing law school admissions chances and success during law school.
This offers students the unique opportunity to learn through real cases presented by the lawyers who argued them. This offers firsthand exposure to a wide range of legal practice areas, and helps students make well-educated decisions about their law school choices and legal careers.
Watch Video: The Lex Law Firm Experience
“There are many good reasons to explore the law and the legal profession before entering law school…
You will gain a more realistic view of the actual practice of law, the skills you will need, and the realities of the legal employment market. You may even enhance your candidacy for admission to law school, as well as your opportunities for employment during and after law school. Take advantage of opportunities to shadow, network with, or be mentored by practicing lawyers.”
- American Bar Association
Practice Areas of some of the Law Firms visited during a Lex program:
-Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Sectors
-International Law
-Tax Consultancy
-Legal Consultancy
-Mergers and Acquisitions
-Private Equity
-Italian Law
-Corporate Law
-Commercial Law
-Employment Law
-Spanish Law
-Family Law
-Renewable energies
-Intellectual Property
Lex program participants visiting a law firm (Rome, Italy).
Sample Case: Breach of Contract Liability?
Note: This case is simplified and is intended to provide context. In reality, case descriptions and questions are more extensive and difficult. At all times, Fellows are assisted by their Legal Associate and the materials provided in their casebook. Fellows do not need any prior legal experience.
Case Description:
Sam opens a car dealership and employs Laura to manage it. Sam wishes to avoid publicity and so decides to name the dealership “Laura’s Toyota.” Sam then instructs Laura that during the week of December 8, Laura may sell only pink cars and not blue cars. Without Sam’s knowledge, however, Laura signs a contract with John, a customer, agreeing to sell him a blue car. Sam tells Laura not to perform the contract. John learns of Sam’s existence and sues Sam for breach of contract.
Questions:
Are Sam and Laura operating in a partnership? Why?
Is Laura acting as Sam’s agent? Why?
Will Sam be liable? Why or why not?
What other implications does this case have?
Concepts to Consider:
Theory of the scope of the agency
Actual authority vs inherent authority
Agency by estoppel
Negligent supervising
Unusual/unnecessary business practices
Hear From Some of Our Partner Firms:
Nitin Khandhia | Managing Director | BTMK Solicitors
“BTMK have been extremely proud to work alongside the Lex Fellowship this year. We have met and engaged with three separate groups of prospective lawyers from the USA and it has been an extremely fulfilling project for us to participate in. At BTMK, we have a huge commitment to training and growing our future lawyers from within our organization and it was great to be able to give an insight of the way we do things at a regional law firm to students from all across the USA. The Lex Fellowship is a brilliant and unique opportunity for those lucky enough to participate - to sample what it's like to be a lawyer abroad. The students all managed to engage in a case study based on one of our recent High Court matters and the Lex Fellowship should be congratulated on being able to bring together a complex program such as this to their students. We'd be delighted to participate again in the future.”
Enrique Rubio Socorro | Associate | ISLAW Abogados
“The Lex Fellowship program provides students a great opportunity to get know the different fields of law and how they work and interact, their particularities and features. I really enjoyed sharing my own experience as a lawyer and talking about how I ended up practicing maritime law. Someone talked through this with me some years ago and, thanks to his advice, I can say I made the right decision when I chose my specialization.”
Elaine Fitch | Partner | Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch
“I think [the Lex Fellowship] gives [students] an opportunity to learn about different areas of law, and to come in and hear about the various career choices from practitioners, be it big firms or small firms or the government. I was really impressed with how they worked through the case. I tried to keep it simple, but ‘failure to accommodate’ is a fairly complex subject, and there were some really good questions in there. I think [the Fellowship] gives them the opportunity to consider some of the issues and to really think about whether law is the right path for them. Many people - when I went to law school - didn't stop to think about that. So I think this is really helpful for them.”
