I have been at Flannery | Georgalis for nearly three years, and one of the things that has stood out to me most is how much meaningful experience I have gained in a relatively short period of time. From the beginning, I have been given opportunities to take on substantive work and become involved in matters that, in other settings, I might not have encountered for many years. I have second-chaired a federal jury trial, participated in proffer interviews and interviews with government agents on behalf of clients, led client meetings, and worked on a wide range of complex litigation and white-collar matters. I have also had the opportunity to see cases develop from their earliest stages through litigation and, in some instances, through trial.
What makes those opportunities particularly valuable is that I have never been expected to navigate them entirely on my own. I have had the benefit of working with and learning from incredible mentors, including Lambert Guinn, Paul Flannery, Rick Winiker, and Justin Withrow, among many others. They have trusted me with meaningful responsibility while providing the guidance and feedback necessary to help me succeed.
I have always felt comfortable asking questions—even when I worry I am asking the “dumbest question ever”—and I think that speaks to one of the best aspects of the culture at F | G. There is a genuine expectation that associates are here to learn and become exceptional lawyers, and the people around you are invested in helping you do that.
I also think F | G offers a unique balance between the sophistication and resources associated with a larger practice and the accessibility and hands-on experience of a boutique. Associates are not simply assigned a piece of a case and expected to stay in their lane. We are encouraged to understand the bigger picture, work directly with partners, interact with clients, and take on responsibilities that help us grow into confident, independent attorneys. At the same time, we have a team around us that is genuinely invested in our development.
Another aspect of F | G that has been particularly valuable to me is the opportunity to build a practice around my own interests. Although the Firm focuses on sensitive and complex matters, the work itself is incredibly varied. I have had exposure to federal criminal matters, government investigations, civil litigation, business disputes, regulatory issues, and other matters that require very different skill sets. That breadth has allowed me to discover what I enjoy and where I want to develop expertise rather than feeling limited to a predetermined practice area.
The Firm also genuinely supports associates who want to carve out their own niche. We are encouraged to pursue our interests, take ownership of opportunities, and build the relationships and experience that can ultimately become part of our own practice. Early in a legal career, having both the freedom to explore and the support to develop is incredibly valuable.
Most importantly, F | G has given me something I did not fully appreciate when I started: the confidence to know that I can handle difficult matters and unfamiliar situations. I have become a more capable and confident attorney because I have been trusted with challenging opportunities while having experienced lawyers around me who are willing to teach me how to handle them successfully.
That growth also has not come at the expense of having a life outside of work. The work-life balance at F | G is one of the things I value most. The Firm expects associates to work hard, produce excellent work, and step up when demanding matters or deadlines arise, but there is also an understanding that we are people outside of our jobs. For me, that combination—meaningful responsibility, exceptional mentorship, substantive experience, the opportunity to develop my own practice, and a genuinely healthy work environment—is what sets the associate experience at Flannery | Georgalis apart.