Erica Halaszynski and Kelsey Tidgewell, both 2Ls at USD School of Law, found the summer associates program at Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP to be perfectly aligned with their aspirations. The program provided them with a challenging and rewarding three-month internship at one of the foremost construction law firms in California.
UPHOLDING THE TRADITION OF EXCEPTIONAL SUMMER ASSOCIATES.
The program’s alumni, now esteemed firm partners, who launched their legal careers at the firm as summer associates include P. Randolph Finch Jr., Jeffrey Baird, Louis Blum, Nowell Lantz, Daniel Scholz, and Adam Witt.
Through our summer associates program, Erica and Kelsey have had the privilege of being guided by dedicated mentors who offer invaluable guidance, answering their questions along the way and providing direction. The mentors share their expertise and support with these aspiring law students on their journey to success. Apart from learning from their mentors, Erica and Kelsey have also worked closely with our team of 27 construction law attorneys during their time here. It has been an enriching experience as they prepare to head back to finish their third and final year of law school. During the past three months, they have gained hands-on experience in various aspects of the legal field. From conducting legal research to diving into large document productions and corporate transactions, and even assisting with deposition and trial preparation – they’ve been fully immersed into the world of law.
We are proud to see them grow and thrive throughout this program, and we wish them continued success in their legal careers.
Here’s what ERICA AND KELSEY had to say about their experience:
“The Summer Associate Program at Finch, Thornton & Baird has been a great introduction to the practical application of law. From working on different aspects of discovery, to legal research, and lots in between, the different projects require you to use different skill sets and apply your knowledge in a hands-on way. It has also been compelling to learn about construction law, which intersects and connects multiple areas of law, such as contracts, torts, and corporations. These connections allowed me to tangibly link classroom concepts to a real-world application. Further, everyone has been very welcoming, and is invested in your learning and success. Social events throughout the summer gave us a chance to get to know our coworkers and provided an opportunity to ask questions about the firm or our work. The summer program has exceeded my expectations and given me a great look into what life will be like as a practicing attorney.”
Erica Halaszynski
USD School of Law, 2024
“The Summer Associate Program at Finch, Thornton & Baird was all that I hoped it would be. I had the opportunity to work with and learn from associates and partners on a wide variety of cases. Everyone was welcoming and took the time to teach me all about construction law. Law school prepared me for the reading and research, but FTB’s summer program gave me a true sense of what it is like to be a lawyer. From discovery to motions to legal research to transactional work – the FTB attorneys gave me a chance to work on it all. This summer program has been invaluable to my professional development, and I feel confident that I will be able to hit the ground running as a young attorney. I could not have asked for a better summer experience!”
Kelsey Tidgewell
USD School of Law, 2024
