Dan Barham Vanderbilt University Law School class of 2007; member of the 2006 summer associate class

No one is really “typical”, but I think it’s safe to say that I’m not your typical law student or summer associate. After a seven-year sales career, I enrolled in Vanderbilt Law School to earn my law degree. Then, right in the middle of fall interview season, my wife and I discovered that we were expecting our first child. This summer has been busy and non-typical to say the least.

For my wife and I, the decision to move back to Columbus was easy enough. Many of our friends and family live in Columbus, and it is simply a great place to live and raise our son. However, I knew little about the Columbus legal community prior to interview season, and I knew even less about Bricker & Eckler.

I first learned about Bricker & Eckler the same way many of you might be learning about the firm right now. Like me, you have probably already visited the website and clicked on the “Recruiting” link, then maybe the “Practice Areas” or “Industry Groups” links. However, as I progressed through the interview process, I discovered that the people at Bricker & Eckler are what make the firm an extraordinary place to work.

My experience with Bricker & Eckler has been fantastic. I could spend a great deal of time talking about the interesting projects I’ve worked on, how flexible and family-friendly the firm is, and the fun I’ve had with Bricker attorneys, staff, and fellow summer associates. But all of that stems from Bricker & Eckler’s blend of legal excellence within a collegial atmosphere.

Bricker & Eckler fosters an unpretentious work environment where your contributions will be valued and your individuality will be appreciated. As I write, I’m struck that after one summer I feel so comfortable here. Then again, Bricker & Eckler is not your “typical” law firm, and it takes a certain type of person to appreciate that. That’s why I want to build my legal career here, and I’m certain that’s why people stay with Bricker & Eckler.