Sydney Matrisciano attends Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Prior to LCA Sydney Matrisciano was an intern at Saper Law Offices.
Q: Many of our interns come to us with unique backgrounds in the arts. Do you have any personal background in the arts?
A: I am a mixed media artist; I embroider photographs! I had my first solo show last year, with the Marie Hull Gallery in Raymond, MS. I have most recently exhibited through the 10th Juried Biennial Invitation at the Roger D. Malkin Gallery in Greeneville, MS (2023), and a group show with the Wild Pigment Project at Form & Concept Gallery in Sante Fe, NM (2022)
How did you hear about LCA?
Reeya Thakrar of Faegre Drinker told me about her fantastic pro bono experience through LCA- I immediately knew I wanted to get involved.
What did you expect? Did anything here surprise you?
I came into LCA with an open mind but was immediately struck by how amazing the full time staff members are. LCA is so well-organized and effective in their mission, and that’s in no small part to the hard work of the team! They are all very kind, generous colleagues and I’m grateful to have spent my summer learning from their experience.
Do you have any favorite moments or projects from your time with us?
The interns are welcome to attend any of the workshops or events offered by LCA. I recently attended a workshop on LLC Formation at The Empty Bottle- when I walked in, the place was absolutely packed. People were sitting on the floor, sharing seats, standing—just absolutely spilling out of the space--all intently focused and engaged on the speaker. I’ve never seen a group so invested in learning. Watching the crowd, it struck me how important LCA’s work is and how grateful I am to be a part of uplifting the Chicago artist community this summer.
How has your experience at LCA connected with what you have been learning in law school?
Many clients come to LCA with legal issues similar to the 1L doctrinals classes—except instead of being dry examples out of a textbook, their contracts are real! It has been a very exciting process to interact with clients and see the nuances of each issue.
Did you come into LCA hoping to get experience in a particular area of law? Have your interests changed at all?
I came to LCA hoping to see a wide variety of practice areas, and I certainly have. Over the course of the summer, I saw issues as disparate as copyright and personal injury, and many more in between! I have learned that I enjoy client interaction and can’t wait to continue that interest in the coming years.
What’s next for you? Has your time at LCA helped you to narrow your options?
I’ll be returning to Northwestern as a rising 2L. I plan to go through the OCI process at the end of the summer, and LCA has given me plenty of learning experience to draw on for those interviews.
Do you hope to volunteer with LCA once you have your degree?
Absolutely! I can’t wait to return with more skills and experience to continue supporting the great work that LCA is doing in the Chicago community.
What value does an organization like LCA add to the arts community?
LCA fills in the gaps and makes legal education and access accessible to a broader array of people. Often those most in need of advocacy are also the least able to afford it—LCA coordinates and collaborates to connect artists with attorneys able and willing to help!
What's a fun fact about you?
I’ve hiked every single trail in Zion National Park for an undergrad research project!
Which tv-show/movie/song/book have you recently finished that you would recommend?
TV Show- Kim’s Convenience
Movie- I am unashamedly eagerly awaiting the Barbie movie, July 21!!
Song- Venice by Emily James
Book- How to do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Thank you Sydney Matrisciano 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.