Taylor Porter is proud of its annual summer associate program, which hires highly motivated, well-rounded law students to participate in two, six-week sessions. Under the guidance of practicing attorneys, our summer associates gain hands-on experience and interaction that reflect real life as a lawyer. During the first summer session of 2016, Taylor Porter has eight summer associates, and our law firm is proud to profile these eight students and gain their insight from the Taylor Porter summer associate program.

Learn more about the Taylor Porter Summer Associate Program

Sara Kuebel is entering her second year at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU, where she will be the 2L Class President and is also an Hebert Scholar. She has received the CALI Excellence Awards for highest grade in Legal Traditions and Systems with Professor Alain Levasseur and Criminal Law with Professor Ken Levy. She also is an active member of the Public Interest Law Society and volunteers her time at the Baton Rouge Food Bank. She has obtained her LexisNexis Professional Research Certification. Sara graduated cum laude with her B.A. from LSU in Political Science. Sara is from Covington, Louisiana.

What practice area(s) are you most interested in and why?

Before I started my clerkship, I was most interested in energy law, oil & gas, and maritime. My entire family works in those industries, and my whole life I’ve grown up near or on the water. I actually got my boater’s license before my driver’s license. Being born and raised my entire life in Louisiana has always kept me interested in those areas as well.

How has the Taylor Porter summer law clerk program helped prepare you for becoming a lawyer?

The summer clerk program has not only taught me how to hone my skills and improve my writing, but it has helped me to grow as a professional. Every partner, associate, office assistant, etc., that works here is always so kind and courteous. Being in this atmosphere has allowed me to see not only the business side of being a lawyer, but also the personal side.

Who are your Taylor Porter attorney mentors and what have you learned from them about the legal field that will stick with you?

My mentors are Nancy Dougherty and Trey Tumminello. Nancy mostly works with LSU, and I have learned so many interesting laws from her regarding the LSU Board of Supervisors and special provisions applying to LSU. Trey taught me to not be intimidated by certain areas of law. One of the first assignments I was given was from Trey dealing with Louisiana securities law. He helped me hone my research and understand the background of the case to simplify the facts and find the answer.

What do you like best about the TP Summer Associate Program?

My favorite aspect of the TP program is the office’s atmosphere. Every person in this office is genuinely nice and cares about our development as lawyers. I love the mentor program and how the attorneys take the time to give you feedback and discuss our work with us. I also love how many areas of law I have been exposed to in just a short three weeks. I’ve done projects ranging from Louisiana’s Blue Sky Laws to leases of public lands, to the exclusion of expert testimony and formation of limited liability companies. Taylor Porter has exceeded any expectations I could have had.