Breck Valentine Case Western Reserve Law School class of 2008; member of the 2007 clerk class

If you are looking for a law firm that provides exposure to a wide variety of practice areas and a group of people that is friendly, intelligent and grounded, Bricker is, without a doubt, the place for you. I assure you that I say this not as a “sales pitch,” but as a testament of my own experiences. One year ago, I began interviewing with firms within Cleveland, Columbus and Chicago. With time, many of those firms began to blend together – except for Bricker & Eckler.

I immediately knew that there was something different about this firm. The conversations were informal, the people friendly and unaffected. In short, I was instantly at ease. It was no surprise that I accepted the firm’s offer for a summer associate position on the spot. There was little doubt in my mind that Bricker combined the best of both worlds – a large firm atmosphere with a small firm feel.

Now, as my summer with Bricker is quickly coming to an end, I am even more assured that I made the right choice. I began law school intent upon litigation. My time with this firm has allowed me a great deal of experience within this area. For example, I was able to attend depositions, Supreme Court arguments, draft briefs and sit-in on client meetings and conference calls. In speaking with friends of mine who are also working at large firms, I am convinced that my summer experience does not follow the norm. Additionally, the summer was filled with a number of activities that enabled the clerks to get to know the attorneys and one another outside the office. It only served to confirm the laid-back atmosphere prevalent in this office.

When interviewing, you will notice, as I did, that many of the larger firms have similar practice areas. As such, it becomes difficult to discern one firm from another. In my opinion, the best way to differentiate among them is to compare the firm atmosphere and the people. For me, after a summer in this office Bricker was the obvious choice!