A Law Student’s Journey: From Beside the Bench to Private Practice By Angela Hanna
I’m only a few years into my legal career, but during this short time, I have gained a variety of valuable experiences. My legal journey began with my undergraduate Paralegal Studies Program at the University of Toledo in the fall of 2019. My goal was to become an attorney, but I come from a family with no ties to the legal community, so I prioritized networking and took advantage of the resources offered by the program. Despite the worldwide pandemic, that occurred shortly thereafter, I was still able to make connections with my professors—some of whom were active practitioners—as well as the program director.
A year after starting the Paralegal Studies Program, I was looking for internship opportunities when the director shared a job opening for Judge Lanzinger’s Law Clerk/Bailiff at the Toledo Municipal Court. In January 2021, I was offered this full-time position and adjusted my full-time class schedule to evenings, so I could gain practical experience in addition to my classroom education. This role, combined with my evening courses, provided invaluable insights that went beyond classroom learning; I routinely observed different types of court proceedings, learned how courts operate internally, and made significant connections with dozens of attorneys and other members of the bench. Additionally, this unique
perspective deepened my legal understanding by allowing me to witness what’s important to judges, understand the reasoning behind their decisions, and grasp what to do—and not to do—when practicing law, especially when practicing in a courtroom. These were lessons that I knew would follow me into any position I’d have in the future.
In August 2022, I started law school at the University of Toledo College of Law through their evening program while still working full-time at the Toledo Municipal Court. I quickly realized that my undergraduate program and real-world experience provided me with an advantage in many of the traditional first-year courses—civil procedure came easily, and criminal law made sense, enhancing my understanding of each parties’ positions and objectives in the criminal proceedings I encountered daily. Since then, my courses and professors have introduced me to new areas of the law, refined my essay writing, and taught me what information professors are looking for during cold calls. Although my law school courses have instilled a new way to
conceptualize and approach various issues, most of my courses haven’t necessarily addressed how to practice law. This is why I decided to join the team at Charles Boyk Law Offices as a paralegal/law clerk after serving almost three years at the Toledo Municipal Court.
When joining the firm last fall, my goals shifted towards learning and developing skills I’d need to practice that weren’t necessarily addressed in my previous position—such as building and
maintaining client relationships. Since becoming part of the team, I’ve established relationships and assisted clients from across the state and even different parts of the country. I’ve also become more familiar with the practice area and am learning the civil litigation process from this new perspective. Most importantly, I’m getting hands-on experience with the internal casework that occurs outside of the court system.
This change in position has led to endless learning opportunities. The questions posed by clients are different than those that were asked by judges and attorneys, and learning the law from this different point of view is shaping me into a well-rounded practitioner for the future. Not only am I learning the law from attorneys who have been practicing since before I was born, but I am also gaining insights into strategic client advocacy from those recognized for their excellence in the field.
Each role I’ve held has come with different audiences, and I believe learning these roles has made me more versatile in the way I communicate, strategize, and empathize with each audience. At the court, I realized the value in understanding the court system itself and how to effectively work with members of the bench, court staff, attorneys, and members of the public. In law school, my professors have taught me a new way to approach problems and how to critically think about relevant issues. In my current position, I’m learning the importance of collaboration and working towards common goals while gaining a deeper understanding of the client side of the story that I’ve been missing. Fortunately, in each role, I’ve been surrounded by team members and mentors who have shown genuine interest in my personal development and who value the insights I take away from each experience. I am excited to continue growing with the Boyk team as I approach my expected graduation in December 2025 and prepare to start my career as a practicing attorney in 2026.
