As Andrew Grech’s legal internship with CTM Legal Group in Chicago is well underway, join us as we check in with Andrew for a further update on his past few weeks in the Windy City.
Now that my internship has entered its seventh week, I can say with confidence that my time in Chicago is proving to be a truly memorable experience. From the legal exposure that I am gaining at CTM Legal Group to the social aspect that is such a vital component, I am able to appreciate all the more the professional and personal benefits of an experience of this kind.
While I continue to assist and shadow Attorneys in different practice areas, my attention over the past few weeks has shifted particularly onto the criminal sphere. I have been able to research and work on a Petition for Modification of Pretrial Release (bail) Conditions as well as a Franks Motion, which is a legal procedure that is intended to challenge the validity of a search warrant. I also had the opportunity to assist with the preparation of a discovery binder; the process of collation of the evidence in the prosecution’s possession.
In the upcoming week, I will also have the opportunity to attend a criminal hearing with a Partner at the Cook County Circuit Court, formally known as the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse and colloquially known as “26th and Cal”.
As previously mentioned, living in Chicago has been an adventure in itself. The past few weeks have been especially eventful, and I have got to experience Chicago’s Lakefront Trail along Lake Michigan, watched a fireworks display from the iconic Navy Pier, walked along the Magnificent Mile, attended another football match at Soldier Field Stadium, and spent a day out in one of Chicago’s suburbs called Warrenville; a quintessential American experience! I also watched a College American Football match on the day the US celebrated the federal holiday of Labor Day, on 2 September 2024.
I was also able to arrange an exciting weekend trip over to Canada last weekend, visiting Toronto as well as Niagara Falls; the latter of which was an item I could cross off my bucket list! This is definitely a major advantage of the Alliance of Business Lawyers (ABL) Secondment Program – that one is encouraged to travel and explore their host country and beyond as much as possible.
