The Assessment

For the past few weeks I have gotten adjusted to my internship. I am getting a chance to assist with many of the annual projects that The Florida Bar has going on for the next couple of months. So far my experience has been really great, and I was hired as a staff member to help out in my department along with my internship duties. Being a staff member and having to come into work everyday has made me grow closer to my fellow colleagues. I honestly did not expect to be an intern, be on the payroll, and make so many new friends from many various backgrounds. I can truly tell that my services are wanted and needed here at The Bar. I have been filling in for the secretary that is out on leave and helping the office out when things get busy, as well as placing work orders, typing up spreadsheets, working on the agenda, and writing press releases for the 21st Annual Reporters Workshop. I have also been mailing out pegal pamphlets to schools and organnozations around the state of Florida. Although I am highly enjoying my time working and interning at The Bar, it has caused me to over-extend myself this semester. I know that I can handle it but at times it gets tough having to maintain six classes, my school assignments, my work schedule, extracurricular activites and trying to prepare for the LSAT.

Throughout my internship thus far I have had the opportunity to exhibit many of my skills, talents, and strengths. I have had to use my skill of knowing how to work with Excel spreadsheets and Microsoft Word documents. One of my main strengths is that I can learn and adapt quickly when I am being shown or given a new task. One talent that I am very thankful for is that I can communicate and I work well with others. Working at The Bar you have to have these skills to be able to effectively communicate with who ever may call the office, as well as with my co-workers. I also think that my ability to be creative and knowing how to plan events is a very useful skill for this internship. One thing that I would like to initiate at my internship is Benchmarks for our publics and not just attorneys by providing information on The Bar website. This would inform our publics about speakers that are available to help educate adults about Judicial Review, Bill of Rights, Court funding, and facts about the U.S. Government.

After speaking with several Bar staff members on things that could be improved at The Bar, I would like to plan a workshop for The Bar staff to educate them on what each department specifically does. This workshop would benefit each department to help keep the high traffic of callers from being transferred to the wrong department because staff members are not aware of what each department handles, which would then allow workers to work more efficiently without having to be interrupted as often.