The reality of working in a US law firm

When we talk about the legal profession in the United States, most of us undoubtedly think of lawyers in various television series such as "Suits", "The Good Wife" and "How to Get Rid of Murder". But does the portrayal of their work and lifestyle on TV match reality? This time, Mengglobal Indonesia participant, Steffen Adiadi, will answer this question with his experience working in a US law firm.

 

It's no secret that the Hollywood film and television industry presents a positive image of law firms in the United States. I myself was inspired to become a lawyer by the character of lawyer Harvey Specter in the TV series Suits. But when I got an opportunity to do an internship at a law firm in the United States, I finally realized that all the stereotypes shown on television were wrong.

 

Job and internship opportunities

 

When watching legal films in theaters and on television, sometimes you will see foreign nationals working/apprenticing at a US law firm. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, there were internship opportunities at several US law firms. However, these law firms typically seek US citizens pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree program. It's definitely not profitable for me to be an Indonesian citizen and get an LLM degree program - a degree that is considered less prestigious than a JD.

 

Fortunately, I was able to land an internship at one of the largest law firms in Philadelphia. Although the internship program I participated in was pro bono (interns are unpaid), I am grateful to have had the internship experience. If you want to work in a law firm in the US, I suggest you take this internship program. It's true that working without a salary can be difficult, but if you can showcase your skills in an internship, the situation will improve.

 

Another thing I would like to say is the notion that taking the bar exam (the written exam to get a US attorney license) and taking the exam is the best way to practice in the US. From my personal experience this is not true at all. Law firms in the United States usually seek lawyers from Indonesia because they need the expertise of such lawyers to handle legal problems or Indonesian clients. I myself passed the New York State bar exam, but I still face many challenges to practice law in New York.

High professionalism

 

The Hollywood film industry often perpetuates the stereotype that work situations in US law firms are full of personal drama. From my observations, this stereotype is very wrong. The working environment of law firms in the United States is one of high professionalism. Most people will be at their desks to do their work. Several people will usually be in the hall to discuss with their clients. There are casual conversations between office colleagues, but mostly it takes half an hour.

 

During my internship, I participated in real estate and immigration cases. An example of a case I've worked on is tenants evicted from a rental property. I record their complaints and provide appropriate legal advice for them. I also conduct phone interviews every morning and visit clients in the afternoon.

 

Similar to Indonesian lawyers, US lawyers face long working hours, tremendous pressure and serious litigation. Indeed, the work situation is stressful, but I consider it a valuable life experience.

 

Nice view

 

Lawyers are one of the highest paid professions in the United States. So it's only natural that many lawyers use premium products to enhance their appearance. They dress smartly to show their professionalism and prestige. However, they are free to dress appropriately outside of work hours. I myself only wear a suit and tie when I have to visit clients or talk to a supervisor. So I think it's a Hollywood stereotype that lawyers are always seen as dapper.

 

Like yesterday

 

Hollywood has a very accurate stereotype of the partying habits of American lawyers - because most people there love to party. Usually they are at a nearby bar on a Thursday or Friday night to drink, dance and joke to their heart's content.

On the first day of my internship, I felt a little isolated because people were busy with their work. Fortunately, that changed the following Thursday when he invited me to the pub. Finally, I was able to meet my office friends and have a pleasant conversation. Since then, I don't feel alone in the office and I can develop deep friendships with my colleagues.

 

If you want to make friends with your colleagues in the US, I suggest going to a party with them. Americans value friendship and are open to making new friends in a party setting.

 

Career benefits

 

An internship at a US law firm will certainly enrich your resume, but the experience won't be very relevant if you want to return to work in Indonesia. In my opinion, internship opportunities like this should be used to improve your professionalism and increase your network. US lawyers have a superior work ethic - they value hard work, practical thinking and the best logical solutions. If you can adopt this kind of work ethic, you can be a good lawyer in any law firm.

 

I also recommend expanding and maintaining your network in the US. After making professional friends from other countries, I realized that networking with US attorneys can give you more benefits—like getting referrals to clients or opening up opportunities.

 

As I have explained above, Hollywood movies and TV series do not give an accurate picture of US law firms. Work and office situations are not as beautiful as the stories on the screen. You will face days full of stress and days full of frustration. There are also some situations where you may regret your career choice as an artist. But you should be able to appreciate all of these because they will enrich your work and life experience.