Summer Experiences: Jenna Ray, ’24, Summer Associate, McDermott Will & Emery (Chicago)
Jenna Ray, ’24, is working as a summer associate at McDermott Will & Emery. Ray has enjoyed working in the firm’s private client group and learning how interconnected trusts and estates is with other areas of law.
How did you connect with this summer opportunity?
I first met with Dean Casaleggi in OCS, who (correctly) suggested I consider private client work. From there, I researched firms in Chicago who have a robust private client practice and connected with friends here at UChicago Law who had summered at McDermott in the past.
How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree?
In the words of Marie Kondo, “I love mess.” I know that I want to work with families and individuals, not corporations, and handle complex (and sometimes messy!) personal matters. Private client, or trusts & estates, allows me to do exactly that, with a hefty side of tax planning.
Please describe a “typical” day at work.
As a summer associate, I might spend an hour or two drafting trust and other estate planning documents, research the law on the tax implications of trust termination, meet with clients to either execute documents like wills and trusts or to discuss taxes and other estate administration procedures with surviving family members.
What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position?
This summer, I had the chance to participate in meetings with families who recently lost loved ones, explaining the complex estates and tax plans. What struck me in that meeting was just how comforted the family was knowing that the partner and the team of bankers and accountants had a plan in place, even if they didn’t fully grasp the complexity themselves. It was a good reminder to me not only how important it is to have an estate plan, but also that I want to work with families and be helpful to them on what must be one of the worst times in their lives.
What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far?
Everyone needs an estate plan. Have a lawyer do it. Revisit it on occasion!
But really just how interconnected trusts and estates is with other areas of law. Yes, I work with life estates and tenants-in-common relationships. But I spend much more time researching specific tax provisions and guidance, banking and securities law, and even aviation and maritime law. I even investigated discreet questions for one of two living, feuding family members. Private client is more about being an adviser in all things over generations, not just someone you call on your death bed.
What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer?
Go for it! These practice groups tend to be small and offer a wide range of opportunities in transactions, litigation, and regulatory/administrative law. There’s also a rumor of work-life balance…I’ll report back.
If you’re serious, I would take not only trusts & estates and estate planning, but also business organizations, banking, and income tax. Estate planning is tax planning!
How are you spending your free time this summer?
I have been enjoying live music this summer! I went to Renaissance, Eras, and even took myself to Stevie Nicks!
What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall?
Seeing friends at wine mess! I have yet to take a Greenberg seminar and look forward to bidding on one for the fall.