Interview with Andra Ion – Internship at JGV & Associates – “The Best Opportunity to Understand What a Litigation Means and How It Unfolds”
HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT “JGV & Associates”?
I was in my second year at the Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest. I had not yet had the chance to do an internship at a law firm, and my experience was limited to internships at public institutions.
I entered law school with the intention of becoming a lawyer and wanted to see what the reality of the profession entailed. With a simple Google search for “legal internship,” I found several articles about JGV & Associates, including testimonials from students who had previously interned there.
It seemed like the best opportunity to understand what a litigation entails and how it unfolds, and the areas of practice—traffic accidents, workplace accidents, medical malpractice—seemed intriguing. I sent a CV and a cover letter, and things started to take shape.
HOW DID YOU INTERACT WITH THE JGV & Associates Team? WHO DID YOU INTERACT WITH?
Interactions with the JGV & Associates team were dynamic—I always had something to do or learn. I had the opportunity to interact with most of the senior lawyers on the team, primarily in the area of Personal Injury & Insurance Law. Whenever I had questions, I received answers.
What pleased me the most was that, thanks to the explanations I received, I could see the people behind the cases, get in touch, in one way or another, with the stories of the injured parties or the families of the deceased who turned to JGV & Associates for help, and witness the work and dedication that make achieving “justice” in court possible.
WHAT WERE YOUR PRACTICAL RESPONSIBILITIES DURING THE INTERNSHIP?
HOW DID YOU FIND THE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN THE JGV & Associates Team?
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A DAY OR A WEEK WORKING WITH US?
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES HAS THIS EXPERIENCE OFFERED YOU?
Firstly, it helped me understand the theoretical concepts I learn in law school. Thanks to the internship, I feel that I have a much better grasp of the General Theory of Obligations in civil law and the aspects of criminal procedural law than I would have without the activities at JGV & Associates. Additionally, I have come into contact with elements of civil procedure, which I am sure will be useful both in my fourth year of law school and after graduation.
It also offered me the opportunity to see and work on cases alongside experienced lawyers, understand the dynamics and preparation behind a litigation, interact with clients, and observe how a court hearing is conducted. It made me aware of the ups and downs of a lawyer’s work and the passion needed to be a true professional.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?
Three years after deciding to study law, I still maintain the idea of taking the bar exam to become a lawyer. I have always felt the need to see tangible results. Not necessarily quick, but with a visible impact.
I am convinced that people who seek a lawyer have the same need—they want concrete answers in situations that are sometimes “life and death” for them. I believe that being a lawyer is a way to offer solutions on a micro level.
People need a partner, a support, someone to help them with a problem, with sincerity, openness, and courage in the face of effort. And I believe that, in the future, through learning and practice, I will be sufficiently prepared to present myself this way to people.