By Alyssa Williams, Court intern/2L, Winston College of Law, University of Tennessee-Knoxville

When I began my summer internship with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, I didn’t know what to expect. As a 1L, you don’t learn a lot about this specialized area of law, and it was certainly a learning curve. But, as with all areas of law, learning workers’ comp wasn’t just learning about the law. It was learning about attorneys, judges, medical professionals, and clients. It was seeing this idea of “reputation” put into practice.

Over the summer, I attended status hearings, trials, and appellate oral arguments. I had the opportunity to discuss the cases I observed with judges and to learn about the intricacies of preparing for oral argument through conversations with the Appeals Board. In addition, I drafted status orders and articles and, on occasion, prepared the facts section of judicial opinions. All the while, I took notes both of what occurred during these cases and also how the attorneys spoke.

Here are some of the most important lessons I learned.

The Most Meaningful Work Combines Competence with Compassion

If you’ve read my previous articles, one thing that I always come back to is the people behind the case. And, I’m not just talking about the attorneys, judges, and clerks that make the world go around. I’m talking about the clients, such as the injured employee or the business.

When handling a case, it’s not enough to be competent. To know the law like the back of your hand. It’s also important to be compassionate to the injured employee whose life was turned upside down; to the store manager, whom they reported the incident to, and who called 9-1-1 in a panic; to the frazzled nurse case manager rushing back and forth from patient to patient.

At the end of the day, everyone involved is a person first. Some of them have built a relationship with another over the course of a claim, while others are simply doing the best they can in difficult circumstances. I’ve watched witnesses endure relentless questioning during direct and cross-examination, with every inconsistency scrutinized in an effort to undermine their credibility. Some of them were nearly driven to tears.

Of course, that’s part of the impeachment process, but it’s also a reminder that people at the center of these cases are more than the roles they occupy in the courtrooms. At the end of a case, we get to move on. We slide to the next case, the next client, the next court date. However, these people carry the weight of the proceedings long after the hearing ends. Perhaps for the rest of their lives.

Clear, Calm Communication Builds Trust and Credibility

Another thing that comes back to reputation. Throughout all of the trials and oral arguments I watched, one thing that stuck out to me was how attorneys treated witnesses and judges.

An attorney’s reputation is built on more than their ability to argue the law. The way they treat the people in the courtroom speaks just as loudly about their character. There were moments when an attorney was backed into a corner by a judge’s questions or when a witness examination didn’t go as planned. How they responded in those moments left a lasting impression on me.

Some attorneys handled those situations with professionalism and composure. Some were a little less than polite. Others were even less gracious, openly challenging a judge’s reasoning or even questioning the judge’s competence. Those interactions were impossible to ignore. No one wants to be remembered as the attorney who disrespects the Court. Beyond reflecting poorly on the attorney’s character, that kind of conduct can undermine their credibility, and, ultimately, their client’s case.

Asking Thoughtful Questions is a Sign of Curiosity, not Weakness

Many people today are scared of asking questions, whether it’s for what a word means or guidance on a task. They fear that asking questions will make them appear unprepared, inexperienced, or incompetent. I’ve found the opposite to be true.

I want to do things correctly the first time. If I don’t understand something, I’d rather ask for clarification than spend hours correcting mistakes that could have been avoided if I’d asked a few more questions. Thoughtful questions aren’t a sign that I don’t know enough. Instead, they’re a sign that I’m invested in learning and improving.

Fortunately, both of my mentors fostered an environment where questions were encouraged. No matter how simple or complex my questions were, they took the time to explain not just the answer, but the reasoning behind it. These conversations led to broader discussions about litigation, courtroom procedure, and mini-lessons on workers’ compensation. Lessons I couldn’t have learned from a textbook alone.

No attorney knows everything. Even the most experienced lawyers continue learning throughout their careers as the law develops around them. Every case presents new facts, new challenges, and new perspectives. Curiosity is one of the qualities that allows an attorney to present their best work.

Looking back, I’m grateful that I never let the fear of asking a “stupid question” keep me from speaking up. Every question made me a little more confident, knowledgeable, and prepared for the next assignment.

When I accepted this internship, I expected to learn about workers’ compensation law. I did. However, the most valuable lessons had very little to do with statutes or case law. They came from watching experienced litigators advocate for their clients, observing judges manage difficult proceedings, and seeing firsthand how every decision affects the lives of real people.

Being a good attorney requires treating others with respect, communicating with professionalism under pressure, and having the humility to keep asking questions. As I return to law school, I’ll carry those lessons with me. The law will continue to change, and there will always be more to learn. But, I hope to remember that behind every case file is a person, behind every question is an opportunity to grow, and behind every interaction is a chance to build the kind of reputation that clients, colleagues, and Courts can trust.