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.
Rocky Tinkler joined Shutts’ West Palm Beach office for the summer from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. His previous experience includes an internship for Judge Tomás Rebull and Judge Lisa Walsh in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Rocky shares his thoughts on his summer experience at Shutts.
What were the three most memorable experiences throughout your time here?
My most memorable experience from the Summer Program was going with a partner to meet with government officials from Palm Beach County to ask questions for a project on behalf of a client. I had previously done work with this partner on this project, so it was really exciting to see my work have a direct impact on the outcome for the client.
What is something new that you learned during the summer program?
I learned that the law is not as clear as it might seem in law school. In an academic environment, even if there is no correct “answer,” there is pretty much always a correct analysis based on established authority to apply to the fact pattern written by the professor. In the real world, however, the kinds of research problems that attorneys need young associates to help with are those that don’t have clear answers. There simply may not be enough authorities out there to definitively answer the question or your facts may be entirely unique from anything that has come before. Whatever the case may be, sometimes you need to be creative to find a legal solution for a problem.
What advice would you give to someone about starting the interview process?
I would say to come in feeling relaxed and being yourself. If you are given the opportunity for an interview, that means the firm believes that you are qualified to work there and likes who you are on paper. Interviews are for the firm to get a feel for what you are like in person and if you are a good fit for the culture. At the end of the day, everyone wants to enjoy being around the people they work with, so giving interviewing attorneys a well-rounded view of yourself is important.
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.