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 second summer session of 2016, Taylor Porter has six summer associates, and our law firm is proud to profile these students and gain their insight from the Taylor Porter summer associate program. In this article, Taylor Porter is proud to profile Harvard Law School student Daniel Joiner.

Learn more about the Taylor Porter Summer Associate Program

Daniel Joiner, Harvard Law School, Class of 2018

Daniel Joiner will enter his second year at Harvard Law School, where he is a committee chair of the Black Law Students Association Orientation, Mentoring and Engagement committees. He has helped homeowners in the Boston area with Harvard Law School’s Project, “No One Leaves.” Earlier this summer, Daniel volunteered with the Southern University Alumni Federation. Daniel graduated summa cum laude and was the Class Marshall of his graduating class at Southern University. Daniel completed an Honors Thesis, and he earned a B.A. in English. Daniel is clerking under the mentorship of Taylor Porter attorneys Preston Castille and Mac Womack.

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

Litigation and commercial litigation most interest me for my legal career because I think the skills necessary for being a good litigator mesh well with skills I have been using and honing my whole life. I enjoy the challenge of working on my feet and look forward to being able to work within a courtroom someday.

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

It has given me a greater appreciation for the subtleties of practicing law. I think some of the strategies, tricks of the trade, and practical aspects of practicing law are things that are not touched upon in law school.

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

Mac Womack and Preston Castille. I think one of the things that I’ve learned from Mac is how social the legal profession is and can be, and how well you communicate can affect the course of your legal career. From Preston, I’ve learned that being a lawyer doesn’t have to be your only job, and that if you’re committed to hard work, you can take on multiple meaningful roles.

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

I think the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is meeting and working with the variety of different people, personalities, and practice areas. I also have enjoyed getting to know my fellow clerks.