Student Spotlight - Bahar Tarighi
Bahar Tarighi’s interest in the Small Business Legal Clinic grew out of her early interest in transactional law and her eagerness to get real, hands-on experience. During Bahar’s first semester of her 2L year, she spoke with several classmates who had previously interned with the SBLC, and hearing them talk about working directly with clients and small businesses really stood out, leading her to learn more about the program’s goals and impact.
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During Bahar’s time interning with the SBLC she was able to strengthen her practical legal skills through client interactions and doing work within her area of interest, intellectual property. Bahar was able to work on a range of transactional and intellectual property matters, including filing trademark applications, preparing copyright registrations, advising clients on copyright and trademark issues, and drafting client contracts.
One experience that stands out to Bahar was working with a client who returned multiple times for assistance in registering her creative works. Over the course of several meetings, Bahar helped her navigate the copyright registration process for different pieces and worked closely with her to ensure each filing accurately reflected her goals. Building that ongoing relationship was especially meaningful to Bahar, as it allowed her to see how consistent legal support can empower a client to protect and grow her work. Bahar said that experience reinforced in her the value of trust, clear communication, and continuity in client advocacy.
After graduating this Spring, Bahar’s goal is to practice in entertainment law, specifically in the music licensing space, helping creative professionals protect and grow their work. Working at the SBLC has been a formative step toward that goal, Bahar said, because she has had the chance to work primarily with entertainment clients who are just starting new creative projects or expanding existing ones. She said that helping these clients navigate copyright registrations, trademark applications, and contracts gave her firsthand insight into the legal challenges that arise in the early stages of creative ventures. Through these experiences, she has learned how transactional law directly supports artists and creators in turning their ideas into protected, sustainable projects.Bahar’s time at the SBLC has not only strengthened her transactional skills but also confirmed that she wants to dedicate her career to helping creative professionals bring their work to life with the confidence that their legal foundations are secure.
When asked what she would tell other students, Bahar said that she would tell other students that interning at the SBLC is an incredible way to gain practical, hands-on experience in transactional law. Bahar’s advice would be to dive in fully by asking questions, preparing in depth for client meetings, and taking advantage of every opportunity to draft documents or provide legal guidance. While she said that the work can be challenging, the experience of seeing your work have a direct impact on small businesses is incredibly rewarding. Bahar would also recommend networking with past interns and meeting with Professor Susan Felstiner early, which Bahar did herself.
Bahar highlighted that the SBLC also recently started an exciting new partnership with Nike, where each intern is paired with a dedicated Nike mentor. Bahar got to be apart of this partnership, and said that this has given her a unique opportunity to discuss specific legal matters, as well as broader questions about the legal profession and career development. Connecting regularly with her Nike mentor has been incredibly valuable for her as she has gained insights into how transactional and corporate law operate within a large, creative company, and she has learned practical strategies for approaching client relationships, drafting agreements, and navigating complex legal issues. Beyond the technical skills, these conversations have also offered Bahar perspective on different career paths in law, the realities of working in-house versus in a firm or clinic setting, and the importance of maintaining curiosity and adaptability as a lawyer. Bahar said this mentorship has been an enriching complement to her SBLC experience, bridging her hands-on work with guidance from seasoned professionals in the field.
Bahar said that her experience interning at the SBLC has not only reinforced her passion for transactional law but also shown her how rewarding it can be to help small businesses navigate complex legal issues. Thank you Bahar for your dedication to working with the Small Business Legal Clinic!
