Fabbrini Law Group
The firm I work for went beyond the general duties of legal representation and internship programs. For clients, it provided constant communication and clarity. For interns, it provided that much and more. The firm created a positive environment that encouraged everyone to work hard and have faith in the work they were doing. My motive for choosing a private firm was to find an opportunity to gain experience in the legal world. Fabbrini was great at combining the corporate world of Chicago's financial district and community.
HITECH and criminal procedure policy in the works
I saw an impact of Illinois law on how the law firm could practice.
In personal injury lawsuits, many of the discovery/research involves obtaining medical records from clients who suffered injury. The HiTech Act of 2009 established as part of HIPAA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, required a cap on how much medical facilities could charge legal representatives for medical bills. During my internship period, I saw this law change. As of a few months ago, there is no longer a cap on how much one can charge law firms for medical records. Because attorneys now have to spend more on the investigative process, fees for clients will inevitably increase and they will receive less money for their injuries. This was something that troubled me and I noted as something that needed to change.
In criminal defense, I saw many instances of where Illinois law failed clients. Particularly with firearm laws in Illinois. As of a few years ago, gun laws have changed in Illinois to include mandatory sentencing for certain crimes and less consideration for individuals who are working on rehabilitation. The work lies on the criminal defense attorney (my boss) to work around these laws, but ultimately these laws create roadblocks for rehabilitation. The mandatory sentencing laws in Illinois lead to many individuals getting harsher sentences for crimes. This troubled me greatly and is something I hope to focus on one day, as gun violence in Illinois is something that is prevalent in today's society.
In personal injury lawsuits, many of the discovery/research involves obtaining medical records from clients who suffered injury. The HiTech Act of 2009 established as part of HIPAA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, required a cap on how much medical facilities could charge legal representatives for medical bills. During my internship period, I saw this law change. As of a few months ago, there is no longer a cap on how much one can charge law firms for medical records. Because attorneys now have to spend more on the investigative process, fees for clients will inevitably increase and they will receive less money for their injuries. This was something that troubled me and I noted as something that needed to change.
In criminal defense, I saw many instances of where Illinois law failed clients. Particularly with firearm laws in Illinois. As of a few years ago, gun laws have changed in Illinois to include mandatory sentencing for certain crimes and less consideration for individuals who are working on rehabilitation. The work lies on the criminal defense attorney (my boss) to work around these laws, but ultimately these laws create roadblocks for rehabilitation. The mandatory sentencing laws in Illinois lead to many individuals getting harsher sentences for crimes. This troubled me greatly and is something I hope to focus on one day, as gun violence in Illinois is something that is prevalent in today's society.
DAY-TO-DAYDay to day at my internship involved a series of clerical work and case management. Each day I was responsible for contacting clients, drafting lawsuit documents for personal injury cases, and reviewing discovery for criminal cases. Contacting clients directly allowed me to personalize the work I was doing and feel the impact I had through my daily tasks.
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generalOn special days, I had the opportunity to sit in on depositions, interrogatories, and even attend court sessions at the Daley Center. It gave me an inside look into what makes practicing law personal rather than just work and interact with the clients that we were representing.
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