Our 2026 Summer Associate Program brought 8 law students to the firm for an intellectually challenging and professionally gratifying experience. The students took part in firm-sponsored social events and community service projects throughout the summer in addition to attending client meetings, depositions, court hearings and other proceedings. Nearing the end of the program, the students agreed to share a few highlights from their summer at Shutts.
Hunter Giel joined Shutts' West Palm Beach office for the summer from Florida International University College of Law, where he serves on the FIU Board of Appellate Advocates (Moot Court Team) and is a member of the FIU Law Review.
Hunter shares his thoughts on his summer experience at Shutts.
What is something new that you learned during the summer program?
I learned the importance of managing my workload by assessing capacity, prioritizing assignments, and completing such assignments in a timely manner. Although this is similar to law school in that it involves a time sensitive workload and requires triaging assignments by importance and priority, the key difference is that you can manage your own plate. This requires balancing initiative with sound judgment so you stay busy without taking on more than you can complete well and on time. In short, I learned to assess my capacity at any given time so I could balance assignments, deliver high quality work, and avoid overextending myself in a way that compromised timeliness or quality.
If you could go back to the first day of the summer program and give yourself a piece of advice, what would it be?
My advice to myself would be to relax and not sweat the small things. It was, and still is, important to put my best foot forward in my work product, in conversations with attorneys, and in how I carry myself in the office. At times, I was overly critical of myself because I did not want to make a single mistake and worried any hiccups would reflect poorly on me. In reality, attorneys and staff were not concerned about mistakes because there was no expectation that I would be perfect, especially this early in my legal career. This summer focused on learning, developing as a professional, and gaining a clear understanding of what it takes to succeed at Shutts, rather than trying to eliminate every mistake and imperfection.
What advice would you give to someone about starting the interview process?
The best advice I can give to someone starting the interview process is to be yourself, while still putting your best professional foot forward. Of course, it’s important to maintain a high level of professionalism in any interview and to show genuine respect for those taking time out of their busy schedules to consider you. At the same time, I think it’s equally important to be yourself and communicate who you truly are during those conversations. It is about showcasing who you are, both to give your interviewers a clear sense of what you bring to the table from a personality and fit perspective, and to help you determine whether you would work well in that environment after showcasing your true self.
About Shutts & Bowen LLP
Shutts & Bowen LLP, established in 1910, is a full-service business law firm with approximately 280 lawyers in offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Learn more about Shutts & Bowen at www.shutts.com.