The University of Miami School of Law prepares students for a cross-section of legal professions, and students work during the summers in internships to hone their particular legal area of interest. For those interested in business law, Miami Law provides hands-on experience and a thorough understanding of the intersection of law and business.
Below are a few students who gained practical skills in summer internships in banking/finance, corporate counsel and compliance, media/broadcast, and more, allowing them to apply their academics to real-world settings.
James Carter, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, New York, NY
James Carter spent his summer in New York City working at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “During my summer at the CFTC, I witnessed the shape an investigation of market participants takes when a government agency is determining whether to pursue an enforcement action,” he says.
Carter transferred to Miami Law as a 2L and has hit the ground running not just with summer internships but academically, having received the CALI award for Criminal Procedure. He received his undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University.
The summer experience also taught him about litigation, and “I was also able to learn methods experienced trial attorneys use to form their trial strategies.”
Riya Goel, Cisco Systems Inc., New York, NY
Riya Goel, Vice President of Miami Law’s South/West Asian and North African Law Student Association, spent her summer as an associate with Cisco. At Cisco, her responsibilities included working alongside in-house general counsel to standardize processes, researching AI technology and generative AI trends, analyzing contracts and IP ownership clauses, shadowing negotiations, import/export audits, and product-legal meetings.
“The most rewarding part is seeing the value in my work,” says Goel. “Seeing the legal team use my templates and research to lead meetings feels really encouraging! I’ve always loved the tech world, and my goal was to be an in-house attorney, so this seems to be the perfect marriage between the two.”
At Miami Law, she is a research assistant for Professor Scott Eichhorn in the Investor Rights Clinic, a senator for the Student Bar Association, and director of finance for the American Constitution Society. She completed her B.S. in Finance at Fordham University.
Victor Alvarado Graterol, Ferox Strategies, Washington, D.C.
Victor Alvarado Graterol worked in Washington, D.C., at Ferox Strategies, a lobbying firm, where he enhanced his drafting, policy, and transactional skills and collaborated with diverse clients, from GAP to small non-profit organizations. At Miami Law, he is a member of many student organizations, including the Entertainment and Sports Law Society, the Hispanic Law Students Association, and Disability Law Students Association. Alvarado is an intern at the Human Rights Clinic and a Miami Scholar. He studied Psychology as an undergraduate at Florida International University.
Regarding the experience at Ferox, he says he learned about “…the intersection of policy and the law. Dealing with various clients, I learned about the committee process of legislation, used research skills in different matters for business development, and used caselaw to review the latest Chevron overturn and how it would affect fellow clients.”
Jessica Knopf, Bacardi North America, Miami, FL
The 3L law student started as a legal intern at Bacardi in May 2024. “During my summer at Bacardi, I researched federal and state-specific alcohol beverage laws to respond to inquiries from various business teams,” she says. “I also learned how to apply alcohol regulations to contracts and reviewed agreements to ensure they followed these laws.”
As a previous business owner, it makes sense that Knopf is doing the Transactional Law Concentration in law school. In a law article, she said, “I’ve become interested in so many areas of the law—including hospitality/alcohol beverage law and mediation—that I’m not entirely sure where I’ll focus. I do know that whatever I decide, it will definitely be on the transactional side.”
She received her B.A. from UC San Diego and her M.B.A. from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
In reflecting on interning at Bacardi, she says, “This experience showed me how the in-house legal department supports different areas of the Bacardi organization by providing legal guidance and ensuring the company is in compliance with all regulations.”
Sophia Magill, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta, GA
Sophia Magill learned about in-house lawyering for a sports team during her summer internship. “I drafted sponsorship, lease, and talent agreements.” says Magill. “I also assisted in preparing standard operating procedures and extension agreements. I researched laws and legislative proposals that impact the team, including data privacy and premise liability laws.”
At Miami Law, she is studying for a joint degree, a J.D./LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law, and is a member of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society. Magill received her B.A. in Sports Management and Political Science from the University of Georgia.
Her internship ended with a bang. “Most of my work [was] confidential so I cannot share specifics, but last week, my first sponsorship deal was signed!”
Joshua Oresky, Hidden Harbor Capital Partners, Boca Raton, FL
Joshua Oresky is a 2L at the University of Miami School of Law. In the summer of 2024, he worked in the private equity area at Hidden Capital Partners. He credits the experience with giving him insights into the complexities of transactional law, reinforcing his interest in corporate law.
“Over the summer at Hidden Harbor Capital Partners, I had the opportunity to gain practical experience in the private equity industry while working closely with in-house counsel,” he says. “This experience taught me how integral good lawyering is to the success of privately held companies, especially within the areas of mergers and acquisitions, investment structuring, and contract drafting.”
Oresky received his B.S. in Political Science and Government from Florida State University as an undergraduate.
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