A student at Creighton University School of Law, Tony is the Vice President of the Problem Direction for the 2024 Moot Court Competition and Student Articles Editor on Volume 58 of the Creighton Law Review. He is a part of the current 3L Trial Team after winning the 2L Trial Team Competition and Outstanding Oralist Award. Tony is also a member of the Labor & Employment Law Society, the Sports & Entertainment Law Society, the American Constitution Society, and the Rural Law Society.
Q: What initially attracted you to the Fraser Stryker Summer Associate program? How did your expectations align with your summer experience?
A: What attracted me to the Fraser Stryker program back in my 1L year was the combination of the reputation of Fraser Stryker and the culture among its people which I had experienced through their first visit to campus in the fall of 2022, the open house in the spring, and my interviews prior to being hired. Through two summers, I have felt these expectations have been warranted. It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from some of the best attorneys in the state. It has also been a pleasure to get to know the attorneys and spend time talking with various attorneys about everything from the law to their families to shared interests.
Q: Share an example of something you learned this summer that could not be taught in a classroom.
A: This summer, I worked with an attorney on a demand letter into commencing litigation. While doing so, I worked with the attorney, a paralegal, and made several calls to the client. While I had the opportunity to draft a demand letter and complaint in law school, the opportunity to take ownership of the project and have several interactions with the client to better understand the facts was a unique opportunity. While there are courses for interviewing and interacting with clients, nothing compares to speaking with a real client, finding out their wants, their needs, and ascertaining the facts that are important to their case in order to help them achieve the best result for them.
Q: What “words of wisdom” would you like to pass along to the next class of Fraser Stryker Summer Associates?
A: Trust yourself. It is easy to feel overwhelmed or like you don’t have the knowledge to answer questions or talk about a specific topic/issue. Trust the research you do, trust your instincts, and trust the work that you do. While there is much to learn about the practice of law that you cannot get in law school, the attorneys here have brought you in because they believe you have the knowledge and ability to be an asset to the firm and our clients. Ask questions when you have them, but do not be afraid to trust yourself.
About the Fraser Stryker Summer Associate Program
The Summer Associate Program is structured to give summer associates a realistic experience, which is comparable to that of a first-year attorney. Visit the Fraser Stryker Summer Associate Program page to learn more about our program.
This article has been prepared for general information purposes and (1) does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship, (2) is not intended as a solicitation, (3) is not intended to convey or constitute legal advice, and (4) is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney. Always seek professional counsel prior to taking action.