My First Week at Fuchsberg

Joining a new firm, there are a lot of questions that go through a lawyer’s mind—what will the office culture be like, will I make new friends, will I like the new practice and clients?

As nervous as I was about starting a new job, I was excited to jump into working in medical malpractice and civil rights. My passion has been to work with individuals and improve their lives. This comes in part from being the daughter of two social workers. My mother spent years working in a children’s hospital, seeing the impact that good care can provide patients of all ages. I have had doctors, good and bad, and seen how the quality of care truly affects the outcomes a person can have. I am thrilled to finally be embarking on a career that focuses on client connection and support.

From my interactions during the interview process, I had previously found the partners to be welcoming, kind, passionate lawyers. Walking into the office the first day, I saw this on display as I looked at the line of baby photos in fun frames the office proudly presents in their waiting room—family of our attorneys and staff. I was immediately welcomed by Alan Fuchsberg and given a tour, met the incredible paralegals we have on staff, and was given my first impromptu training by Brad Zimmerman and Chris Nyberg on how to review and highlight medical records that revealed the crux of a case—in this instance, whether a doctor made the proper decision regarding a C-section. They spoke with a deep understanding of lawyers who spoke every day with expert physicians and tried cases involving such records for decades.

Every Tuesday and Friday, the firm comes together. Partners, associates, and paralegals discuss upcoming deadlines. There is constant reevaluation, analysis, and discussions on every aspect of a case across the firm. As a third-year associate, this is a goldmine of learning opportunities, as I have the platform to ask for advice from some of the most experienced partners as I wrestle with an issue, be it practical, such as whether an expert is a good fit, or legal, such as whether a particular theory of liability applies.

Unlike many firms, where associates must create whisper networks rather than present a question to a partner directly, the firm has built in these meetings so that cases can be discussed openly. Without sounding too much like a recruiter, I have found Fuchsberg partners to be dedicated to creating a firm culture where associates receive mentorship and constant training, while clients receive the best advocacy possible. It is an exceptionally special place.

In the past week, I was given the opportunity to speak with several clients myself. I heard stories of cancers going undetected, of rape and molestation, of strokes being ignored, of children with permanent disabilities. Every case involves serious, often tragic, experiences for our clients. Yet, as I sat down with a new potential client, I saw her resilient, strong, and grateful for the chance to speak with people who could help. I met parents who lost their first child and saw the love and support in each other’s eyes as they held hands while recounting what had gone wrong with the delivery process.  I spoke with the wife of a man who was so sick a phone call would exhaust him, who told me how much she loved him. Listening to people fighting even when their loved ones had passed away, I saw that law could exist not only as an avenue for justice, but as a way of providing closure for those who have been wronged.

It is humbling to be an advocate for members of my community. The emotional aspect of caring for clients and providing zealous legal representation go hand-in-hand. While I am new to the firm, I am not new to the idea of serving your community by using the skills you have. No one should have to have a colonoscopy bag for the rest of their life because a doctor wasn’t careful or find out a tumor has grown in their brain because of a medication they took years ago. Bringing legal action is often a last resort, and I am incredibly lucky and grateful to be of service to those who have nowhere else to turn.

So while nervous jitters are normal the night before starting a new job, the truth is I shouldn’t have worried. I am incredibly excited to be here, and the work is just beginning.

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