Future litigator Adetoun Adelana ’27 spent her summer traveling all of New York’s five boroughs as a trial division intern at Nationwide Insurance. Shadowing the company’s attorneys, Adelana conducted legal research, drafted motions, and wrote memoranda, gaining a view of how the New York City court system functions from the inside. “It’s been a great mix of practical writing experience and exposure to litigation in action,” said Adelana, who sees a future in corporate law. “I’ve always enjoyed making strong arguments and thinking quickly on my feet,” said Adelana. “Litigation lets me do all of that while constantly learning more about the law in real time.”
Where did you intern this summer?
I was a trial division intern at Nationwide Insurance in New York City.
What excited you about this opportunity?
I was most excited to see how the skills I developed during my 1L year—legal research, writing, and analysis—would translate into real-world work. I was also really interested in learning more about the kind of legal issues an insurance company like Nationwide handles and how those play out in practice.
I applied to this position because I’m interested in litigation and wanted to gain experience in that area to see if it’s the right fit for me long-term. Nationwide stood out as a reputable, Fortune 500 company where I could learn from experienced professionals and get meaningful exposure to real legal work. It felt like the right place to grow and explore this path further.
What are you doing in this role?
In this role, I’ve been drafting motions, conducting legal research, writing memoranda, and shadowing court proceedings. It’s been a great mix of practical writing experience and exposure to litigation in action.
What has been your favorite part of the experience so far?
My favorite part so far has been going to court and seeing the legal process in a real world context. Watching how attorneys prepare for and present in court has given me a much clearer picture of how trial prep works and how the court system functions day to day.
Another one of the highlights was getting to shadow different attorneys in court across all five boroughs. It gave me a chance to see a wide range of styles and approaches to litigation, and I learned something new each time. I was surprised to see just how broad litigation can be. With the right legal foundation, almost anything can become a litigated issue.
What is your degree program and what area of law are you interested in?
I am currently a J.D. candidate and I’m most interested in pursuing corporate law when I graduate.
I’ve always enjoyed making strong arguments and thinking quickly on my feet. I like the courtroom setting, the structure of legal procedures, and the challenge of legal writing and research. Litigation lets me do all of that while constantly learning more about the law in real time.
Being a member of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy team has also helped sharpen my oral advocacy skills. I’ve learned how to be more intentional with my words—knowing what to say, when to say it, and how to say it in a way that strengthens my argument.
Where did you grow up and where did you attend college?
I’m from Queens, New York, and I attended Northeastern University for my undergraduate degree, where I majored in finance and pre-law.
How do you think this summer experience will help you when you return to Fordham Law and/or in your future career?
This experience has given me a clearer vision of what I want in my legal career and what I’m looking for in future opportunities. It’s also helped me identify which classes to take at Fordham that will build on the skills I’ve developed this summer and keep me on the right path moving forward.
This summer, hundreds of rising 2Ls and 3Ls from Fordham Law are gaining hands-on experience across the country and around the globe. Whether working as summer associates, judicial interns, or fellows, they’re building professional networks, sharpening their legal skills, and exploring their areas of interest through meaningful, real-world engagement. Follow @fordhamlawnyc to read more stories about Fordham Law students’ summer experiences in our #futurefordhamlawyers series.