A Relentless Pace This fall, Jermaine Jones '25L was an extern with the Delaware Court of the Chancery.

By Law Communications
February 26, 2025

Jermaine Jones ‘25L is from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He earned a B.S. in Health Policy and Administration with a minor in Business from Pennsylvania State University.  After graduation, he founded a digital consultant startup in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, helping artists grow and connect with their fanbases.  At W&L, Jermaine is an active member of the Black Law Student Association, 2023-2024 Managing Editor of The Law News and the 2023-2024 President of Sports, Entertainment, Intellectual Property Law Society.  He has also competed in multiple law school competitions. Outside of law, Jermaine enjoys lifting, playing jazz piano, cooking, and training in Muay Thai. This fall, Jermaine participated in the law school’s WILF (Working in Law Full‑Time) program as a judicial extern with the Delaware Court of the Chancery with Vice Chancellor Lori Will.

How did you secure this externship?

I secured this externship was through the Working in Law Full-time Program which included an application and interview process. Ultimately, the Vice Chancellors selected three applicants and I was fortunate to be chosen by Vice Chancellor Lori Will.

Describe your work experience and daily schedule.

Working at the Court of Chancery truly was a seven-day-a-week commitment.  In many ways, I operated as an additional law clerk to my Vice Chancellor, assisting with everything from research questions to bench rulings, cite checks, and opinion drafting. The experience was invaluable, providing me with a firsthand look at the depth and intensity of full-time legal work post-graduation.

What are some skills you developed?

Time management was the most critical skill I refined. The Court of Chancery operates at a relentless pace, and balancing assignments from everyone in chambers while preparing for hearings and trials tested and strengthened my ability to manage time effectively. Equally important were my legal research and writing skills. Having my assignments redlined repeatedly helped me become a more precise legal researcher and writer, reinforcing everything from sentence structure nuances to the significance of a single comma.

Beyond foundational legal skills, the ability to absorb knowledge from those around me was invaluable. Everyone at the courthouse–from the Vice Chancellors to the law clerks–is a master of their craft. Observing how they approach legal issues, construct arguments, and interpret statutes and cases provided insights into areas for my own growth that I would not have recognized otherwise.

If I could leave someone with one piece of advice, it would be from my time at the courthouse, “carve out personal time for yourself each day or week and guard it religiously.”

What surprised you about the work you did during your externship?

The pace.  The Court of Chancery moves fast—cases are turned around within 90 days, and that’s no exaggeration. Balancing the workload while being surrounded by incredibly intelligent and hardworking professionals was motivating. The experience pushed me to quickly adapt and refine my ability to work efficiently in a high-stakes environment.

What was your favorite aspect of your experience?

There were two standout aspects. First, attending hearings and trials was invaluable–it allowed me to observe diverse attorney personalities and cadences before my Vice Chancellor. This experience reinforced that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to being a great attorney. The Court of Chancery’s national reach made it especially engaging, as I had the opportunity to witness attorneys from across the country, from California to New York, present their cases.

Second, the research, writing, and feedback were equally impactful. I strongly believe in refining legal writing throughout law school, so much so that I recommend all 2L and 3L students take a seminar each semester to continually refine their craft. My time at the Court of Chancery provided exactly that–rigorous writing practice and constructive feedback–making it an incredibly enriching experience.

Has this experience helped you figure out your post graduate plans, and if so how?

Substantially. I had an interest in corporate law due to my business background, but ironically, I did not take a corporate course until my 3L spring. However, my experiences at the Court of Chancery solidified my passion for corporate litigation, complex cases, and advising corporations. The fast-paced nature of Delaware corporate litigation confirmed that this is exactly where I want to be. I look forward to returning to the Court of Chancery-this time, across from the Chancellors.