The purpose of the present memo is to reflect on my performance at my externship with the Navy JAG Corps, in the first half of the spring 2017 semester. It is to discuss any difficulties and challenges I am facing, and any hopes for the second half of the semester. It is also to get candid feedback about my performance so that I can improve and grow as a lawyer.
MY PERCEPTION OF THE STRENTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF MY PERFORMANCE
I think that my positive behaviors or “strengths” are a willingness to do anything that is asked of me, arrival on time at my externship site, and prompt attendance of meetings. I note my “strengths with the caveat that I see certain characteristics as being inherent to most people entering the legal profession and so it is somewhat difficult to think of them as strengths. I tend to view my “strengths” more as basic prerequisites. With regard to weaknesses, I think that sometimes I have been inadequately prepared for some meetings and that I have needed to be more structured in my preparation and presentation. For instance, I would ask Lieutenant Commander Stock a question about a letter. He would ask me additional questions about the file and sometimes I would not know the answers and would be leafing through the file trying to find the exact answer. I could have been more prepared for anticipated follow-up questions and in the future that would be something I would work on so I am not scrambling for an answer during his limited time. In general, I think that I need to work on organization. Good organization is a fundamental aspect of professionalism and I have the tendency to gather large amounts of information, but fail to adequately organize it. What results is a presentation of information that is not as succinct as it could be. I think that in general, I feel comfortable with being assertive in the workplace and asking for what I need, however I feel that in the present case, I have not quite as assertive as expected. It is fine line and I am still not sure how much I should be jumping into …show more content…
I have had an introduction to the NJP and ADSEP processes and hopefully now I can actually be useful. I would like to participate in any projects related to legal writing and would like to improve my skill at legal writing. I would be delighted to engage in any projects where I could improve my legal research skills. I would like to improve my ability to understand how to actually prep for an ADSEP board. I would like to learn the who, how and when of the process of contacting people.
PROGRESS TOWARDS GOALS FOR MY EXTERNSHIP
I feel that basically I am on track meet the goals I described in the initial learning goals memo. I feel that I have been getting a good introduction to military law and what being a JAG, at least at one command, would be like. I have had the opportunity to obtain exposure to a wide range of activities. Looking forward to the second half of the semester, I would like to be further challenged with assignments that push me to engage in broad range of skills.
I would like to add one goal that was not in my initial goals memo. If possible, I would like to participate in an ADSEP board from beginning to end. I would enjoy the opportunity to ask questions of a witness with another attorney present, of course. I know I was scheduled to participate with an ADSEP, but due to rescheduling during spring break I cannot attend the initial one