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 Southern University Law Center students Yolunda Righteous and Michelle Gros.

Learn more about the Taylor Porter Summer Associate Program



Yolunda Righteous, Southern University Law Center, Class of 2018

Yolunda Righetous will enter her second year at Southern University Law Center, where she is the recipient of the SULC Merit Scholarship, the William S. Mayfield Memorial Scholarship, and the Brace B. Godfrey, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. Yolunda had a 25-year environmental career prior to entering law school; nearly 11 years with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and nearly 15 years with Providence Engineering. Yolunda graduated cum laude from Dillard University with a B.S. in Biology, and graduate coursework in Environmental Science and Planning. She has previously clerked for Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. Yolunda is clerking under the mentorship of Taylor Porter attorneys Kiki Bergeron and Juan Miranda.

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

Since my career prior to law school consisted of working in the area of environmental management and compliance, I am excited about the prospect of practicing environmental law. Having the opportunity to participate in depositions and to observe several Taylor Porter attorneys in the courtroom has also sparked an interest in litigation.    

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

Clerking at Taylor Porter allowed for an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the practice of law, while working on a variety of interesting, yet challenging projects. Each completed project was another step in the journey of learning and appreciating the practice of law. The opportunity to participate in client interviews, depositions, and court hearings brought the classroom experience to life. In addition, the attorneys solicited my input with regard to strategy. I was truly made to feel a part of the team. As a result of the Taylor Porter clerkship, my toolbox is fuller, my research skills have improved, and I have gained a wealth of practical experience. This, I am sure, will go a long way in making for a successful second and third year at Southern University Law Center. And in turn, prepare me for becoming a lawyer.

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 Kari Bergeron and Juan Miranda. From day one, they made me feel welcomed. In addition, they guided me each step of the way during my clerkship. They were very supportive and encouraging, while allowing me to work independently to assess my day-to day project workload. I always felt comfortable discussing any matters related to the day-to-day practice of law, the challenges of balancing work and family life, and useful tips going into my second year at Southern University. My mentors kept me with an interesting project workload and facilitated my work with other attorneys at the firm. Knowing my background in the area of environmental management, Kiki and Juan made sure some of my projects were environmentally related. However, they also made sure that I had an opportunity to work on a vast array of other projects with a number of different attorneys in varying practice areas. The effort they expended to coordinate my work experience at Taylor Porter served to expose me to practice areas that I am now interested in pursuing further. Overall, the level of encouragement they provided will stick with me. It truly takes a team to provide the highest level of service to a client.

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

I have enjoyed the culture of the Taylor Porter firm and the sense of teamwork and family that is truly an integral part of the Taylor Porter culture. From the attorneys, to the administrative staff, to the IT group, and to the office assistants, they all made each and every clerk feel welcomed and a part of the Taylor Porter team. We were all valued for our contribution to the firm during our time here this summer. While at the firm, I had the opportunity to get out of the office to observe a group of very skilled attorneys in varying areas of practice. From sitting in a deposition to participating in a family law trial, I gained real-life, practical experience that will serve to supplement my classroom study. In addition, to have an opportunity to work on such a variety of interesting, challenging, and real-world projects gives a summer clerk a great sense of accomplishment. 

Michelle Gros, Southern University Law Center, Class of 2018

Michelle Gros is entering her second year at Southern University Law Center where she is ranked No. 1 in her class and is on the Chancellor’s Honor List. She has received a CALI Excellence Award for highest grade in Legal Writing I and II, Torts I and II, and Civil Law Property. Beginning in the Fall of 2016, Michelle will be on the Southern University Law Review. Michelle graduated in 2003 with a B.S. from LSU in Family, Child and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Human Services Management and a minor in Sociology. She also graduated in 2005 with a Masters in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Michelle has obtained her LexisNexis Professional Research Certification. She was a Judicial Extern for Judge Wicker at the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals from May to June of 2016. Additionally, she was an intern for Judge Pitman, Vice President of the Louisiana Judicial College, at the annual Louisiana State Bar Association and LJC Summer School in June of 2016. Michelle is clerking under the mentorship of Taylor Porter attorneys Cindy Amedee and Kelley Dick.

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

Initially, I entered law school for the purpose of becoming a more effective child and family advocate as I have always been passionate about helping children and families in crisis. However, during my first year of law school, and now through my experience at Taylor Porter, I have discovered that numerous areas of law intrigue my interests. Currently, I am enjoying learning about various practice areas, and I am looking forward to uncovering the area that fits me best all the while knowing that child and family advocacy will always be a part of my legal career. 

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

Not only has the Taylor Porter summer law clerk program given me the opportunity to see the practice of law in action, but this program has allowed me to actually experience what being a lawyer looks like day to day. I quickly discovered that attorneys are always learning because with each new court decision, the law is ever-changing. Every few days I have researched and learned an entire new subset of law. I have been challenged to “think” more like a lawyer and respectfully navigate through this ever-changing law to the client’s advantage. Already, the Taylor Porter summer clerk program has given me opportunities to attend a client meeting, propose defense strategies, compile leading questions for witnesses, research possible outcomes for legal issues where case law is non-existent, edit and revise an appellant brief, collaborate trial strategies with other attorneys, investigate potential post-hearing appeals and motions, understand billable hours and time entry, and has provided me with many more invaluable hands-on legal experiences. 

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

Cindy Amedee and Kelley Dick are my mentors. They both have been very supportive and helped me work effectively and efficiently as a Taylor Porter summer law clerk. I have learned so much from both of them about how to practically manage schedules, clients, cases, billable hours, and other such day-to-day responsibilities necessary to be a successful attorney. Both Cindy and Kelley have helped me to see how valuable it is to work in a place, like Taylor Porter, where you are able to have both the flexibility to individualize your practice but to also have the support of other attorneys.          

What do you like best about the Taylor Porter Summer Associate Program?

What I admire most about Taylor Porter is its loyalty to its clients, staff, attorneys, and to the community. Taylor Porter has consistently been loyal to the community by being a firm of integrity, to its clients by steadily providing quality legal work, to its staff by intentionally showing them their value, and to its attorneys by allowing them the opportunity to flourish and continue to grow in the practice area or areas that fit them best. This same loyalty is evident in the amount of energy and commitment Taylor Porter invests into its summer associate program. As such, what I like best about the Taylor Porter summer associate program is the opportunity to be a part of a firm that is loyal to you from the moment you step into its doors. From day one, I immediately felt like I was a part of the Taylor Porter family, and I think that explains much of Taylor Porter’s longevity as a firm and excellent reputation.