Karan Kaushal is currently enrolled at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. His most recent legal internships were with the Circuit Court of Cook County and The Sikh Coalition.
Q: How did you first learn about LCA, and what motivated you to apply for an internship with us?
A: I learned about LCA through Loyola’s Intellectual Property Society. I enjoyed taking an IP class and wanted to obtain more experience and exposure in the field, which led me to apply for an internship with LCA.
What were your initial expectations when joining LCA, and did anything about the experience surprise you?
I initially expected LCA to be very heavy in Intellectual Property law, and for that to be a lot of the work I would be doing. Surprisingly, artists face a multitude of issues beyond IP, ranging from contracts to business startups to commercial litigation, etc. that I was not anticipating being exposed to.
Many of our interns come to us with unique backgrounds in the arts. Do you have any personal background or experiences in the arts that you feel have contributed to your time at LCA?
I do not have an artistic background, but I have been an avid consumer of all art and have written film reviews and criticism.
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?
My experience at LCA has enhanced my law school experience nicely by supplementing the academic with the practical. Speaking with non-lawyers and clients every week has been a tremendously valuable experience that.
Discuss the significance of learning about arts law from 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?
As mentioned above, speaking with artists and clients themselves has granted practical experience that I did not have before. This, combined with working in a law office setting at LCA, has provided a unique experience that I would not be able to garner anywhere else.
Can you share some of your favorite moments or projects from your time with LCA and why they stood out to you?
My favorite moments have been recently speaking with South Asian artists, as that is a niche and subset of artists overall. Having the opportunity to speak with them, relate to them, and contribute to getting their legal needs addressed has been very rewarding.
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?
I would absolutely volunteer with LCA after graduation. There is a need for artists to create, and legal hurdles often accompany their experiences. Being able to support artists in removing these hurdles is in line with my ethos and something I would like to continue to be a part of.
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.
As mentioned above, LCA serves artists in enabling their artistic endeavors to be possible. Providing this service, especially in a pro bono structure, is a boon to the arts community. Many clients I’ve spoken to have said as much and routinely either support or rely on LCA.
Which TV show, movie, song, or book have you recently finished, and would you recommend it to your peers?
I have too many recommendations, so for the sake of brevity I recently read HEAT 2 and would highly recommend both that book and the movie preceding it, HEAT.
Thank you Karan 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.