Anna Lazzaro attends Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Prior to LCA, Anna held an internship in commercial real estate and business law at Lattas Law Office researching trusts and estates.
Q: How did you first learn about LCA, and what motivated you to apply for an internship with us?
A: I have been interest in pursing a career in Art Law since I came to law school but opportunities to work in art law can be difficult to find, especially as a student. Lawyers for the Creative Arts came up in my job search as one of the only art focused legal service providers in all of Illinois, and I was excited to be involved with art law while gaining practical experience working for a small nonprofit in Chicago.
What were your initial expectations when joining LCA, and did anything about the experience surprise you?
I came into this experience with no expectations but one thing that did surprise me was how much I was able to interact with clients. A large part of this position is speaking to applicants for legal assistance. My previous internships have not been in client facing positions, so this was a completely new experience for me and was also one of my favorite parts of the internship.
Many of our interns come to us with unique backgrounds in the arts. Do you have any personal background or experience in the arts that you feel have contributed to your time at LCA?
I have always had a personal interest in visual arts and I love going to museums and galleries. I took an art history class in high-school which I feel really taught me how to look at and appreciate art. I am not much of an artist myself but I love that this field of law allows me to be both analytical and creative.
In what ways has your experience at LCA connected with and enhanced what you've been learning in law school? Did you enter LCA with gaining experience in a specific area of law in mind? If so, has your experience influenced or changed your interests?
Intellectual property is an area which really connected my class education and my experience at LCA. I was able to use what I've learned about trademarks and copyrights to ask the right questions of clients. I also saw significant overlap in business law at LCA with many artists looking for advice on the best business entity for them and how the incorporation process works.
Discuss the significance of learning about arts law form a practical perspective and how this exposure has added value to your education. Additionally, reflect on your overall experience in a law office setting at LCA - in what ways has this contributed to your professional growth and understanding of legal practice?
Learning about art law form the perspective of LCA has shifted my view of art law from a practical point. Art law is a surprisingly large field of law, and includes much more than the typical art restitution cases which receive most of the media attention. Day to day, art law is contracts, it's intellectual property, it's estates, it's business; seeing the range of legal issues affecting artists has expanded my view of art law as a field of law.
Can you share some of your favorite moments or projects from your time with LCA and why they stood out to you?
Some of my favorite moments from work were attending the seminars that LCA holds for artists. I would highly recommend attending or watching the recordings of those seminars for artists and law students alike. I think the work LCA does with arts/legal/business education is so important and the seminars make pivotal information more accessible.
What are your plans following the completion of your degree, and do you feel your time at LCA has helped shape these plans? Do you have any intentions of volunteering with LCA after obtaining your degree, and if so, why?
Once I receive my law degree I hope to work in transactional art law. I would definitely want to volunteer with an organization like LCA. I spoke to a young lawyer recently who's first case was off the volunteer list at LCA and they had nothing but praise for the experience. It is important to uplift the artist community and create a legal landscape which is accessible.
Reflect on the broader impact of the work that LCA does in the arts community and share your insights on the organization's role in shaping the legal landscape for the arts. Additionally, in your opinion, what unique value does an organization like LCA bring to the arts community? Consider your experiences working with clients at LCA and any insights or lessons gained from these interactions.
The arts, like all other businesses, require legal services to operate. By connecting artists with pro bono legal services, it allows the whole community to be uplifted. LCA fills a significant gap in our legal system for artists who cannot afford legal services and have nowhere else to go. LCA goes above and beyond their mission of connecting artists with legal services needed to continue creating community and culture.
Reflect on your interactions with the staff at LCA. How has this aspect of your internship impacted your overall experience?
The staff at LCA was great to work with. These is a palpable love of arts connecting everyone. The care and passion that each of the staff puts into their work is inspiring. I was truly impressed with the amount of good they do with what they are given.
Which TV-show, movie, song, or book have you recently finished, and would you recommend it to your peers?
I recommend watching the show Jury Duty - featuring a Loyola Law Alumnus!
Thank you Anna Lazzaro for all of your hard work as an intern this quarter! Check the website or follow us on social media for future intern profiles and other exciting content.