Law school teaches you the books, but the real training happens in the trenches long before you ever step into a courtroom.
At Pollack & Rosen P.A., employees are gaining meaningful experience that shapes their confidence, leadership, and understanding of the legal profession. These Pollack & Rosen employee stories highlight the journeys of legal professionals at different stages of their careers. From future 1Ls preparing to begin law school to legal assistants entering their 3L year, each experience highlights how real-world legal work can become the foundation for long-term success.
Turning Interest into Experience
For many aspiring attorneys, the biggest question isn’t whether they want to work in law. It is more about whether the profession truly matches their expectations. This is where valuable prelaw experience in law firm environments makes all the difference.
Kaylee Higuera, Legal Department Manager, knew she wanted to become an attorney after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Instead of heading straight into law school, she chose to work at Pollack & Rosen to understand the profession from the inside.
“The firm helped me see the day-to-day realities of litigation,” she shared. “They trusted me with significant responsibility, and that confidence helped me believe I was ready to pursue law school.”
Beginning law school in August 2026, Kaylee credits her experience at P&R with providing her with practical legal knowledge and the maturity and confidence she needed before taking the next academic step.
Learning What the Practice of Law Really Looks Like
For Ernesto Fernandez, working at Pollack & Rosen was an intentional decision before beginning law school.
Having previously worked in transactional law, Ernesto wanted hands-on litigation experience to broaden his legal foundation prior to beginning law school.
“Working here lets you see how law is actually practiced every day,” he explained. “You get a behind-the-scenes look at the litigation process that you simply can’t learn in a classroom.”
Managing a substantial caseload honed his organizational instinct, a foundational skill that directly translates into legal excellence. “The volume of cases teaches you how important organization is. You have to stay on top of everything,” Fernandez added.
Developing Leadership Before Law School
Fernando Montealegre also began law school in August 2026, but his biggest takeaway was learning how to lead rather than merely learning legal procedures.
After transitioning from nonprofit work back into the legal field, Fernando found opportunities that challenged him to think critically, solve problems, and guide others.
“I had to assemble a team and lead people while working alongside attorneys,” he said. “That leadership experience, combined with problem-solving every day, has prepared me well for what’s ahead.”
Fernando believes prospective law students benefit enormously from seeing both sides of legal practice.
“People often picture law as exciting courtroom moments, but here you also learn about the preparation, the research, and everything happening behind the scenes. That’s what helps you decide if law is truly the right career.”
Growing Throughout Law School
The learning doesn’t stop once employees begin law school.
Marisa Taylor, a Legal Assistant and rising 3L, says her experience at Pollack & Rosen has complemented her legal education by showing how legal concepts work outside the classroom.
“The workload prepares you for law school, but the biggest benefit is seeing how litigation actually functions, from pre-trial practice to courtroom procedures and deadlines.”
She credits the experience with improving her time management while giving her practical knowledge she can immediately connect to her coursework.
Equally important, she says, is working alongside attorneys who are approachable and genuinely invested in helping legal assistants learn.
“They’ve always been willing to answer questions instead of expecting us to figure everything out alone.”
Confidence That Carries Into Practice
Katheryn Perez, Legal Assistant to the Managing Attorney and another rising 3L, believes one of the firm’s greatest strengths is its willingness to invest in people with little or no prior legal experience.
Many firms require experience before hiring, but Pollack & Rosen takes a different approach by training employees from the ground up.
“They’re open to teaching people from scratch,” she explained. “That made it much easier to start my legal career.”
As she progressed through both work and law school, Katheryn noticed dramatic improvements in her professionalism, communication, and confidence.
“When I first started, I was nervous even answering the phone or writing emails. Now I know how to communicate with attorneys, judicial assistants, and clients confidently.”
She also credits the firm’s flexibility and encouragement for helping her balance the demanding workload of law school.
“When finals come around, they’ve always been incredibly supportive. That encouragement has meant everything.”
Building the Next Generation of Legal Professionals
For students considering a legal career, practical experience can make all the difference.
A strong prelaw experience in a law firm environment provides more than exposure to legal terminology. It offers mentorship, responsibility, and firsthand insight into the realities of practicing law.
At Pollack & Rosen, those opportunities have helped future attorneys grow into confident professionals ready for the next stage of their legal journeys.
As Kaylee, Fernando, Ernesto, Marisa, and Katheryn prepare for the future, their stories demonstrate that every successful legal career begins with learning, mentorship, and the willingness to take the first step.