Denise Bilbow is a freshman with a clear picture of her future.

“I am looking to pursue law as a career and also politics,” said Bilbow, who is majoring in English with an emphasis in communications.

She conducted her January Field Period at DeFrancisco Law Firm in Syracuse with an eye toward “gaining contacts for the future, helping to prepare opening and closing statements, gaining an understanding of how cases are dealt with in court, helping to prepare questions, and learning how a law firm works on a daily basis.”

The cases that the firm handled that month were “mostly malpractice and personal injury.” Though that didn’t allow her to “compare litigations much,” she did gain experience preparing for such litigations.

“I did a lot of research,” said Bilbow. “I made trial books that had letters and such that the lawyers would need to reference in court. I also did case reviews in which I would make a timeline of the visits the client made with the doctor.”

In order to obtain medical records, Bilbow had to write letters requesting authorization.

In addition, Bilbow “called clients and lawyers to get updates on conditions and situations, and scheduled depositions.”

If the firm decided not to take on a case, Bilbow sent  “non-engagement” letters, too.

And Bilbow made a political contact while interning at the firm: State Senator John DeFrancisco.

“He is a partner there and I got to meet him.”

Always a good thing for someone who may someday toss her hat into the ring.

-- Tanya Cornell-Kestler