Erin Sherman ’17
Student Attorney
Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic
University of Wisconsin Law School

Describe your summer work experience.
Student attorneys in the Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic work with faculty members, small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the early stages of their projects. We choose clients based on our interests, but are encouraged to explore unfamiliar topics.

I’m currently managing all of the communication and legal work for my five clients. I’ve researched topics such as the Children’s Online Privacy Policy Act and UW copyright policy, and I’ve drafted operating agreements, employment agreements, license agreements, terms of service and privacy policies. We also learn from attorneys and local businesspeople through the required classroom, networking and public speaking components of the clinic.

What has surprised you about the work you are doing?
Because our clients are usually in the early stages of their projects, I expected they would need fairly standard and uncomplicated contracts. However, every one of my clients has had an interesting legal issue that requires research, decision-making and non-standard contract language. The industry, state or federal regulations, and the particular client’s business model can all complicate the contract process.

What classes have been particularly useful in preparing you for the work you are doing this summer?
Contracts provided a good foundation for reading and drafting client contracts. I have addressed client questions concerning at-will employment, warranties and restrictive covenants, all of which were specifically discussed during that course. Business Organizations was essential for understanding the considerations and requirements for structuring my clients’ businesses and for spotting potential legal issues during conversation with clients.

How do you think this work experience will shape the rest of your time at UW Law School?
I plan on exploring other areas of law during my next two years of school, but it will be hard to beat the excitement of collaborating with small businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Madison startup community is filled with hard-working and exuberant people needing guidance on legal issues. I love working one-on-one with these clients, and I get excited about the potential of their ideas. Additionally, the clinic has broadened my understanding of the work that lawyers can do by introducing me to lawyers working successfully in non-traditional roles.

My experience in the clinic has shown me that being a lawyer can be really fun.

Submitted by Law School News on August 25, 2015

This article appears in the categories: Summer Job Series, UW Women in Law - Featured Profile