Alfonso Ventura, Pitney Hardin LLP

Alfonso stepped up at the beginning of this program and set his mind on securing an internship position that would further his career ambitions. With no prior experience in the field of law, Alfonso pursued an internship with the prestigious NYC/NJ firm Pitney Hardin LLP. His mentor, Mike Levison, is an attorney specializing in corporate litigations. Typically his cases involve recovering unpaid debts on behalf of banks and corporations. Alfonso assists him in various paralegal type clerical tasks. He has also had the opportunity twice to accompany Mike to depositions and court filing proceedings.

During these first three months of the program, Alfonso has undergone a major process of adaptation and adjustment of expectations. As I see it, he burst into to the world of work with an ambitious open mind and very sharp suits, but little concrete understanding of the reality of business communication. The law firm environment if anything teaches an intern the value of direct communication, as well as diligence and persistence in the face of sometimes tedious work. Alfonso’s coworkers are extremely busy and often under the pressure of deadlines and long hours, which makes it even more imperative for him to assert and express what’s on his mind. These are the fundamental and most important lessons. He’s come a long way in full stride, still eager to find success as an intern in this lucrative field. His mentor Mike is nonetheless amazingly patient and encouraging. It’s now up to Alfonso to make the most out of this experience by asking the right questions with the right mannerisms, and vigorously pursuing all the available knowledge in the field.