Simran Merchant attends University of Illinois - Chicago. Prior to LCA, Simran held a Summer Associate internship with Saul Ewing.
Q: How did you first learn about LCA, and what motivated you to apply for an internship with us?
A: I first heard about LCA at a pro-bono fair. I was extremely impressed with the way that LCA serves artists and non-profits in the Chicago community. I had an interest in working with small business owners, non-profits, and others in the art community, so I thought LCA was a perfect fit to learn more about business & IP law!
What were your initial expectations when joining LCA, and did anything about the experience surprise you?
My initial expectation when joining LCA was to work closely with the community and be able to speak with those who really needed help. I was able to do just that, and it was so surprising to me how many people rely on LCA for legal help. I did not expect to speak with so many clients on a daily basis who had endured so much hardship and knew to turn to LCA for support and guidance.
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 was on a dance team during my time in undergrad! I do feel like it helped me connect to a lot of the artists who were very passionate about their craft and loved what they did!
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?
LCA allowed me to take what I have been learning in the classroom and apply it to real situations. I have been able to learn about how IP and business/non-profit issues play out in real life and understand how they affect clients on a day-to-day basis. I feel like my experience at LCA has solidified my decision to work in the business/IP practice area.
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 working at LCA were the ones spent speaking with those who were looking for advice on how to start their business/non-profit. It was great to hear about people's passions or their goals for their project and be there at the beginning of their journey.
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 absolutely would love to volunteer with LCA after graduating. I think it would be amazing to be a part of the work that LCA does and see how things work on the attorney's side rather than the intern point of view. I think that LCA does really important work for the community, and I would love to be able to assist with their mission as an attorney in the future
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.
One of the biggest things that I feel LCA does for the arts community is inform them about their rights, options, and remedies that are available to them. LCA gives artists a sense of autonomy and control over their work-either through workshops teaching them about how to protect their art or through connecting them with legal counsel to guide them. These services are truly valuable to the arts community because artists and non-profits especially don't have the knowledge or resources to be able to know their right and what options are available to them. LCA really breaks down the barriers in place to getting legal advice and bridges the communities that need it the most to the help they need.
Which TV-show, movie, song, or book have you recently finished, and would you recommend it to your peers?
As a fan of the Hunger Games Trilogy, I absolutely have to recommend The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes! It is an amazing movie and will change your perspective on the trilogy as a whole!
Thank you Simran Merchant 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.