Law Firm Internship - Chase & Bylenga PLLC
Kevin
Experience Information
Employer: Chase & Bylenga PLLC
Job Title: Paralegal Intern
Major: Political Science
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Chase & Bylenga, PLLC is a committed law firm that provides high quality representation, while acting with integrity in all interactions with clients, adversaries, and the Court. The attorneys and staff are concentrated on a limited practice in order to be on the cutting edge of the evolving legal fields of debt relief, estate planning and social security disability. The law firm of Chase & Bylenga, PLLC provides comprehensive legal services to individuals and businesses in financial distress. Each attorney and staff member are experienced in the fields of bankruptcy, business reorganizations, asset protection and debt relief. The firm is confident in advocating for their clients on complex business cases or simple consumer bankruptcies. At Chase & Bylenga, PLLC the attorneys focus on the individual client with an emphasis on developing personalized strategies for debt reduction or elimination. At Chase & Bylenga there is a belief that bankruptcy and debt relief options are an opportunity to take a proactive step towards eliminating financial concerns. In 2010, Carol Chase and Steven Bylenga founded the law firm of Chase & Bylenga, PLLC to provide professional, experienced and down-to-earth representation for consumers and businesses.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
Over the course of the semester my main responsibilities throughout the duration of the internship was to work alongside the attorneys and other staff members of Chase & Bylenga PLLC. Since bankruptcy is a long drawn out process, to ensure the rebuilding of financial stability, I had the opportunity to work with a variety of clients; those who were clients prior to my hiring as well as new clients who our firm was just opening their case files. Over the course of my internship the tasks that I carried out on a daily basis were and were not limited to attending and taking case notes for 341 meetings of creditors, attending and taking case notes for court hearings with the attorneys, observing intakes and various meetings with clients, calculating monthly incomes of clients to generate a viable budget plan, keeping client and creditor addresses current and up to date, document production of client's files, noticing of pleadings, and generating fee app reports. All of these tasks are of vital importance to such bankruptcy cases. These tasks are standard operating procedures in order to make certain that clients are following strict budgetary commitments in order to resolve their debts as soon as possible as well as keeping files organized for all attorneys and other staff members so that a customary, sequential process for achieving financial stability can be carried out.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Through the duration of my internship I obtained the knowledge of budgets, budget spending, social security, finances, and the know-how and importance of financial stability. These concepts gave support to my understanding of today's economy. I gained valuable information for personal interests in the economy, and the application of law in the business sector. I also gained valuable experience in professional speaking, writing, and presentation of cases and case notes to the attorneys and clients. This internship provided me with real world experience that substantially supplemented my academic education.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of this internship was the camaraderie that the attorneys and staff members of Chase & Bylenga shared with each other and their clients. Because the firm is smaller, encompassing only four attorneys, two paralegals and two legal assistants, it was very easy to meet and get to know the staff and the clients on a personal level. With this level of comfortableness, work became very straightforward and friendly. I had no problem going to any member of the staff to ask for help or contacting clients for additional information if needed. It was one of the most comfortable work environments that I had ever been a part of especially for the line of work that I was in. All in all, this was a very rewarding work environment; I got to experience many different sides and personnel of the law including the underlining politics and political figures that ensure that the law is being upheld.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Working under the attorneys, who together have many years of experience with bankruptcy law, benefited the path that I want to take to get to where I want to be. I profited from this internship the knowledge and skills beyond what I would've learned in a normal classroom. I received hands-on experience that I will utilize in all of my future academic endeavors to assist my aspirations of becoming a corporate attorney.