Allee Forester, SBLC Intern, Fall 2010

My semester at the SBLC was a chance to employ my academic experience, but also, it was as close to a “career crystal ball” as any law student can hope for. I started to work at the SBLC armed with research skills and prior clinic experience, and I left with a firm grasp on the role new associates can play in a law office. I had the opportunity to foster a productive and rewarding attorney-client relationship because I worked with the same client for three months. The work I did ranged from an entity review to an in-depth employment law project to contract drafting. Reviewing and re-drafting a standard form contract is something I probably could have done in a course on contract drafting, but at the SBLC I learned first-hand how to ask the client the right questions to achieve a final product that is legally sound and tailored to the client’s needs. The clinical law professors at the SBLC facilitated my experience with just enough support and resources so that I felt independent and accountable for a high-quality work product. As an added bonus, the clinical law professors are well connected with the rest of Portland’s legal community. The connections provided a diverse group of speakers for class meetings, sources to consult with on SBLC projects, and the networking opportunities that are an omnipresent concern for any second or third year student looking to practice in the Northwest. Under the SBLC’s guidance, I’ve glimpsed the future of my legal career, and the prospects are exciting.

Allee Forester, JD May 2012