Ben Stone, ’28, has been spending his summer exactly as he’d hoped— in a judicial internship in Washington, DC. Working under Judge Armando O. Bonilla in the US Court of Federal Claims, Stone has gained access to wide-ranging cases and perspectives. The experience has helped inform the direction he’d like to take in his career. 

How did you connect with this summer opportunity? 

I knew I wanted to pursue a judicial internship in Washington, DC, so I used the Law School’s Who Worked Where List to connect with students who had completed similar internships. I decided to apply to Judge Bonilla’s chambers after speaking with a student who had previously interned for Judge Bonilla and highly recommended the experience. 

How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree? 

Because every case in the Court of Federal Claims is brought against the federal government, I’ve been able to observe both government counsel and attorneys from across the country handling a wide range of legal issues. Seeing such a wide range of cases has helped me better understand the different paths a career in litigation can take and which ones interest me most. 

Please describe a “typical” day at work. 

A typical day depends on what is happening in court, which is different every day. I may sit in on oral arguments, preliminary conferences, or mediations. When the court is not in session, I spend my time researching legal issues and assisting the judge with the cases assigned to me. Because the Federal Circuit is located in the same courthouse, I’ve also had the chance to attend arguments there.  

What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position? 

I was surprised by how collaborative the work in chambers is. Before an opinion is published, everyone has an opportunity to review the draft, suggest revisions, and flag anything that may be unclear. That process helps ensure that the Court’s reasoning is not only legally sound, but also accessible to the parties and other readers.  

What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far? 

One of my biggest takeaways has been that there is no single “right” path to a legal career. The court hosts weekly lunches with each judge, which have given me the chance to hear about their backgrounds, how they reached the bench, and the advice they have for law students. Each judge’s story is very different, but they’ve all emphasized the importance of taking things one step at a time and remaining open to unexpected opportunities, even when pursuing them may feel intimidating. 

What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer? 

Judicial internships are an amazing opportunity to gain firsthand experience working closely with a judge and to greatly develop your research and writing skills. But not all judges have their interns work on substantive projects to the same degree, so take time to research which judges you want to apply to and (ideally) talk to students who’ve interned with them in past years using the Law School’s Who Worked Where List!  

How are you spending your free time this summer? 

Hanging out with friends and family and enjoying the (often overlooked!) natural beauty of the DC area. 

What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall? 

My friends!  

Is there anything else you’d like to share? 

It’s easy to feel like an imposter when you first arrive at your internship because everyone around you has years of experience and subject matter expertise. But if you put in the work, trust your instincts, and apply the skills you’ve learned in your classes, you’ll quickly find that you’re just as capable!