1. Summer Experience: Fonda Pham ’27L

Fonda Pham '27L is a second-year law student at Washington and Lee. She is originally from McAllen, Texas, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is an active member of the W&L community, serving as a Law Review staff writer and the secretary of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association.

What did you do for work this summer?

This summer, I interned with a U.S. District Court judge in the Western District of Texas. I spent most of my time writing proposed orders and watching courtroom proceedings. I also had the opportunity to observe proceedings before other judges in the courthouse, which was fascinating as each judge approached their cases with a distinct style. I also loved the variety of cases I was exposed to, whether it was corporate litigation or drug trafficking cases.

How did you find/get this position?

Once I decided I wanted to intern with a judge during 1L summer, I started compiling a list of specific federal judges in Texas whose work caught my eye. I then mailed out physical application packets to the judges' chambers. I ended up accepting an offer from a wonderful judge in El Paso, Texas, a city fifteen minutes away from the Mexican border.

Describe your work experience.

I spent most mornings observing court proceedings, which could range from quick status conferences to longer, month-long trials. In the afternoons, I shifted to drafting proposed orders on motions, including motions to compel arbitration, motions for summary judgment, and other projects that came through chambers. I loved following a case step-by-step from the voir dire process to the jury verdict.

What were some skills you developed this summer?

The skill I developed the most is legal research. I was assigned orders that required me to familiarize myself with niche, unfamiliar subjects on my own to produce well-supported proposals. For example, I had to familiarize myself with railroad conductor certification standards, which is not something I expected to ever learn.

Additionally, I gained knowledge in Evidence, which I realized was essential in chambers. It was a challenge considering I had not taken the class yet (it is a required 2L course), but it pushed me to get comfortable researching topics on my own. It also made it much easier to see its relevance when I went to trial and watched those rules come to life in real time.

What surprised you about the work you did this summer?

One of the things that surprised me the most was the judge's genuine empathy and concern for every individual, no matter the circumstances. Despite a packed schedule, the judge would even check in about a defendant's family or ask whether things had improved since their last appearance. Furthermore, I did not expect the setting itself to shape my experience as much as it did. Being minutes from the Mexico border during a time when immigration and border policy were constantly in the news allowed me to experience these challenging issues from a perspective I could never have gained from the classroom alone.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

I always enjoy observing the voir dire process. Watching potential jurors interact with judges and attorneys and observing their personalities in court is unexpectedly entertaining. I also really admired the cordial environment in chambers, as clerks and the judge could be laughing at a joke one moment and immersed in a complex legal question the next. Hearing everyone's perspectives on difficult issues also showed me how valuable those conversations are for working through complex cases.

Has this experience helped you figure out post graduate plans, and if so, how?

Absolutely. This summer made me more interested in civil litigation, and it made me want to consider pursuing a federal clerkship after graduation. Seeing judges and clerks interact firsthand showed me how transformational that experience would be for my career.

How do you think this experience will shape the rest of your time at W&L Law?

This experience gave a much clearer picture of where I am headed and what I need to work on to get there. First, I need to learn to navigate the free research resources that the W&L Law library graciously offers to its students, before I graduate and am charged by the page. I also realized I need to seek out advocacy opportunities like Moot Court, succeed in classes like Evidence, and choose opportunities that will help propel me to the courtroom. Finally, this experience has given me a better understanding of what judges and clerks look for in oral and written arguments, which is knowledge that I will carry forward into the rest of my career.

Outside Law School

Hobby/Interest

Painting, crocheting, weightlifting

Podcast Recommendation

"Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me!"

Favorite thing to do in Lexington

Grabbing dinner at Napa Thai.

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