Summer Experience: Emilio Avila ’26L This past summer, Emilio Avila was a summer law clerk at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in California.

Emilio Avila ’26L

Emilio Avila ‘26L is a third-year law student at Washington and Lee and is originally from Laguna Niguel, California. He is an active member of the W&L Law community, serving as a Lead Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, Mediations Chair on the Moot Court Executive Board, and co-President of the Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA).  During his first-year summer, he was a Judicial Extern for the Hon. Dana M. Sabraw, Chief Judge, at the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. This past summer, he worked as a summer law clerk at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) in Southern California.  After law school, he plans to return to AALRR as a full-time associate.

How did you find/get this position?

I was determined to return to California after law school, so I spent a lot of time networking specifically in Southern California. I was fortunate enough to connect with a partner at AALRR, who encouraged me to apply for the position.

Describe your work experience.

I had the opportunity to work on extremely interesting legal questions that ranged from contract disputes to constitutional law issues. I drafted research memos and client opinion letters, assisted with investigations, helped prepare published legal updates, and attended hearings. The culture at the firm is extremely collaborative and social, so I was fortunate enough to build relationships with and work under some of the firm’s most experienced partners and attorneys.

What were some skills you developed this summer?

I’m always looking for opportunities to strengthen my research and writing skills, and this summer I was able to refine my ability to translate complex legal questions into clear, client-focused opinion memos. Working closely with attorneys on drafting and reviewing key documents also allowed me to experience the full lifecycle of legal work and see what “advice and counsel” looks like in practice.

What surprised you about the work you did this summer?

I was pleasantly surprised by how social and collaborative the workflow was. When I was assigned to research complex issues that attorneys in my office hadn’t encountered before, I often found myself on calls with firm attorneys from across the state, listening to their experiences, learning from their war stories, and gaining valuable perspective on how legal questions play out in practice. Those phone conversations are some of my favorite memories from the summer.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

Every partner and associate I met throughout the summer was incredibly kind and supportive. The work culture was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, in the best way possible.

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

I was very excited to receive a full-time offer and accepted it without hesitation.

How do you think this experience will shape the rest of your time at W&L Law?

My summer experience gave me a small but exciting glimpse into what life can look like as an attorney. I plan to take classes that align with the work I expect to be doing after graduation, and I feel confident in my ability to hit the ground running after passing the bar.