Final Lap: Reflections with Shea Westermann
The third year of law school marks a subtle but profound shift. You start to straddle the line between the classroom and courtroom as you complete externships, receive job offers and start to envision yourself as a practicing attorney. It’s less about lectures and more about starting to refine your professional identity, mentorship and getting ready for the ultimate hurdle – the bar exam. We sat down with Shea Westermann, rising 3L at Drake University Law School and a former legal assistant of Blethen Berens, to reflect on his 2L summer experience, what he’s realized as he looks back on his previous two years of law school and his advice for those who may be following in his footsteps.
Did your 2L summer experience give you a good sense of the culture or practice areas you want to target?
Absolutely! My time as a Summer Associate at Blethen Berens this summer gave me a great sense of both the firm's culture and the type of work I see myself doing long term. The firm’s collaborative environment and mentorship have always stood out to me, beginning at my first days here years ago. Everyone is willing to answer questions and assist in my development. This summer has also helped to confirm that I'm especially drawn to transactional work, where I enjoy helping clients think strategically about their future, whether that’s business problems or estate planning.
How did your 2L summer internship/clerkship go, and did it narrow down what area of law you want to practice?
It was a great experience and definitely helped me better understand what type of work I enjoy doing. Working on a variety of assignments gave me exposure to different areas of practice, but I found myself most interested in transactional work, as I enjoy helping clients navigate legal issues proactively. This fall I'm excited to continue building those skills through courses like Contract Drafting, while also exploring my interest in agricultural law through my other coursework and my role on the Editorial Board of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law.
What advice would you give to incoming 1Ls before starting law school?
My biggest piece of advice is to focus on learning rather than comparing yourself to everyone else. It's easy to think everyone else has everything figured out, but most people are learning as they go. At the same time, don't underestimate the value of building a strong group of friends. The people you meet during 1L will help you through the stressful moments and become one of your best support systems. Finally, remember that law school is a marathon, not a sprint. Make time to recharge and maintain interests outside of school.
Looking back, how different does 3L feel compared to the chaos of 1L year?
It's a completely different experience. During 1L year, everything was new, and a big part of the challenge was figuring out how to study effectively and manage my time efficiently. Now, heading into 3L, I have a better understanding of how to approach legal problems and a clearer picture of the kind of lawyer I want to become. There's still plenty to do, but I can appreciate the journey a lot more now that I've found a rhythm and know what works best for me.
Are you taking any fun or non-law electives to round out your last semester(s)?
Yes, I'm excited about the mix of practical and specialized courses I'll be taking this semester. I'll be in Administrative Law, Contract Drafting, Environmental Regulation of Agriculture, Federal Income Taxation, Food and the Law, and Mediation. I'm especially looking forward to Contract Drafting and Mediation because they'll build practical skills I'll use every day in practice.
How are you planning to spend your last real break before Bar prep kicks into full gear?
I'm hoping to spend time with family and friends, enjoy a little downtime at the lake, play some golf, and recharge before the final stretch of law school and bar preparation. This will be a good opportunity to take a step back, reflect on how far I've come, and get ready for the next chapter of my career.
Blethen Berens wishes all the best to Shea and all students getting ready for their studies this fall!