Episode 142 - John Stillman talks being a summer associate, golf, transferring law schools, and the importance of embracing challenges heads on

But okay, so let's get to Foley.

You figuring out job stuff, and I almost want to put it with the backdrop of you're also a transfer student.

So some of this you're figuring out your 1L summer.

So the whole, what did you do 1L summer? How did you figure out what you're now doing 2L summer? Just tell us the story.

Yeah, no, of course.

The process has become very expedited for all of us.

and for me so it was kind of funny we're like simultaneously applying for 1l and 2l jobs during my 1l year so it was very interesting so i worked at a mid-sized litigation firm in chicago during my 1l summer they were phenomenal people there and they really helped me prepare me for this summer and also my legal career they gave me a lot of amazing opportunities to really learn the anatomy of A typical lawsuit, what goes into preparing for trial and such.

So I had a great experience there.

And can I ask, how did you get that? Because I know there's some student listening, maybe, I like to pretend there are at least, who's like, how did you get that? Is that I'm sending off letters and emails one L year sometime? How did you get that opportunity?

Yeah, so a lot of the 1L jobs were just through letters and emails.

You would just find an attorney there.

A lot of things, just word of mouth.

You meet one person, they may recommend something.

So I think that's just definite advice is, you know, don't be afraid to cold email.

I've realized attorneys, they want a mentor.

Young upcoming law students and they want them they want to provide advice even if they can't offer a job They're not afraid to lean you in the right direction of where they want I think that's a very beautiful part of I guess the old community especially here in Chicago.

I mean I one of the second or third biggest legal market in the country, but it's a very tight-knit group of people that are very supportive and they may know someone or help lead you in the right direction.

So I did that through applying and just honestly word of mouth and a couple other people that I go, if you look to this law firm and connected with someone there, I was able to get an interview and able to land a 1L job.

So that worked out very great, but Eventually got connected with Foley, actually a retired partner in the Chicago office, Donna Pugh.

Her and I got connected with her in beginning of March of my 1L year, so 2025.

Learned a bit about Foley from her.

And she happened to say, well, what are you doing next week? We have our 1L student reception.

here at Foley.

And I was luckily going to be home for spring break.

So I attended that, connected with a couple attorneys, Mike Holland, because he went to University of Wisconsin Law.

But okay, so let's get to Foley.

You figuring out job stuff, and I almost want to put it with the backdrop of you're also a transfer student.

So some of this you're figuring out your 1L summer.

So the whole, what did you do 1L summer? How did you figure out what you're now doing 2L summer? Just tell us the story.

Yeah, no, of course.

The process has become very expedited for all of us.

and for me so it was kind of funny we're like simultaneously applying for 1l and 2l jobs during my 1l year so it was very interesting so i worked at a mid-sized litigation firm in chicago during my 1l summer they were phenomenal people there and they really helped me prepare me for this summer and also my legal career they gave me a lot of amazing opportunities to really learn the anatomy of A typical lawsuit, what goes into preparing for trial and such.

So I had a great experience there.

And can I ask, how did you get that? Because I know there's some student listening, maybe, I like to pretend there are at least, who's like, how did you get that? Is that I'm sending off letters and emails one L year sometime? How did you get that opportunity?

Yeah, so a lot of the 1L jobs were just through letters and emails.

You would just find an attorney there.

A lot of things, just word of mouth.

You meet one person, they may recommend something.

So I think that's just definite advice is, you know, don't be afraid to cold email.

I've realized attorneys, they want a mentor.

Young upcoming law students and they want them they want to provide advice even if they can't offer a job They're not afraid to lean you in the right direction of where they want I think that's a very beautiful part of I guess the old community especially here in Chicago.

I mean I one of the second or third biggest legal market in the country, but it's a very tight-knit group of people that are very supportive and they may know someone or help lead you in the right direction.

So I did that through applying and just honestly word of mouth and a couple other people that I go, if you look to this law firm and connected with someone there, I was able to get an interview and able to land a 1L job.

So that worked out very great, but Eventually got connected with Foley, actually a retired partner in the Chicago office, Donna Pugh.

Her and I got connected with her in beginning of March of my 1L year, so 2025.

Learned a bit about Foley from her.

And she happened to say, well, what are you doing next week? We have our 1L student reception.

here at Foley.

And I was luckily going to be home for spring break.

So I attended that, connected with a couple attorneys, Mike Holland, because he went to University of Wisconsin Law.