Our 2025 Summer Associate Program brought 11 law students from nine law schools to the firm for an intellectually challenging and professionally gratifying experience. The students took part in firm-sponsored social events and community service projects throughout the summer in addition to attending client meetings, depositions, court hearings and other proceedings. Nearing the end of the program, the students agreed to share a few highlights from their summer at Shutts.
Francesca A. Bagala joined Shutts’ Miami office for the summer from the University of Michigan Law School. Francesca is chair of the Latinx Law Students Association as well as the International Law Society.
Francesca shares her thoughts on her summer experience at Shutts.
What were the three most memorable experiences throughout your time here?
One of the most memorable experiences during my time at Shutts has been meeting the other Summer Associates and team members. I formed close friendships, even starting a book club, and built relationships that I hope will last throughout my career. Another highlight was attending the events organized for Summer Associates, which created valuable opportunities to connect with attorneys across different practice areas and led to meaningful conversations over coffee, lunch, and beyond. Lastly, I truly enjoyed working on challenging assignments such as drafting motions, conducting research on various matters, and attending depositions, all of which deepened my legal knowledge and practical skills.
What is something new that you learned during the summer program?
This summer, I had the opportunity to work on new and diverse assignments that expanded my understanding of different practice areas. I engaged more closely with the International Litigation and Arbitration team, the Intellectual Property team, and the Financial Services team, contributing to research, drafting client alerts and motions, and attending depositions. These experiences helped me sharpen my research and writing skills while gaining deeper insight into the day-to-day work of attorneys across various fields.
If you could go back to the first day of the summer program and give yourself a piece of advice, what would it be?
I would tell myself to trust what I know and not be afraid to ask about what I do not. I would remind myself to be patient while learning and adapting to this new field and to embrace curiosity and creativity in how I approach research and problem-solving. I would also encourage myself to take the time to connect with attorneys and other team members, as those relationships are a valuable part of the experience.