3L Todd Arnold discusses the value of working at the non-profit law firm Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma.

I began working with Legal Aid Services in August of 2012.  I was able to obtain a paid internship for both the fall and spring semester of my 3L year.  The internship was particularly attractive to me since it requires an immense amount of attention to detail, without an abundance of trial litigation.  The transactional side of the legal profession is where I will be spending most of my professional career, and an internship with the Bankruptcy Division was a great start in helping me pursue employment in that direction.

During the internship, I held numerous meetings with clients in order to help them through the bankruptcy process.  One thing I have come to learn is that I derive great satisfaction from helping out people in hard times that truly are appreciative of the services being provided to them.  The Non-profit atmosphere helps put attorneys in contact with clients that need the same quality services that other more fortunate clients can afford; but for a cost that will not immediately turn them away.  The managing attorneys at Legal Aid truly are some of the smartest and most talented attorneys in Tulsa, and I am very fortunate to gain valuable experience while working for them.

I was able to learn all aspects of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process.  The software used to input the client information is the same software that 90% of the bankruptcy attorneys currently use in their practice.  This is a valuable tool to have when hunting for a job in the bankruptcy field.  I independently prepared and filed various documents with the Tulsa County District Court.  I was also entrusted with the task of delivering sensitive client information to bankruptcy trustees throughout the Tulsa area.

In May of 2013, I will graduate from TU Law.  I plan to pursue a career in bankruptcy law here in Tulsa, OK.  Because of my internship with Legal Aid, I was able to gain valuable experience in such a specialized field.  Thanks to the insightful instruction from the leading bankruptcy attorney, Victor Hunt, I am confident that I am fully prepared for the competitive job market of 2013. Also, due to the personal client relationships that I was able to nurture, I am positive that I will represent future clients accurately with whatever bankruptcy issues they are confronted with.