Ally Swartzberg, ’26, followed her interest in sports law to New York City this summer where she worked as a summer associate for Proskauer Rose LLP, a law firm that focuses on legal work in the sports industry. During her summer experience, Ally got to tackle projects for professional sports organizations and expand her network in the industry she plans to work in after she graduates.
How did you connect with this summer opportunity?
During my 1L Property Law course, Professor Strahilevitz cold called me. He asked me who owns a home run baseball. After that cold call, Professor Strahilevitz realized I was interested in sports and asked if I wanted to pursue a legal career in the sports industry. I said yes, and he connected me with one of his former law school classmates who is a sports industry “heavy hitter” and a partner at Proskauer.
How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree?
Proskauer is one of the most highly regarded law firms specifically for legal work in the sports industry. This summer, I was able to work on projects for professional sports leagues like Major League Soccer and the National Football League and to attend events like the NBA Draft. Proskauer alumni are also in general counsels’ offices across professional sports teams and leagues, and I was able to do things like attend a Yankees game with two of the Yankees’ attorneys. By working at Proskauer, I have gained a really strong network in my preferred industry as well as directly relevant work experience.
Please describe a “typical” day at work.
I would usually get to work between 8:30 and 9:30 am depending on what I had on my calendar. Some mornings, I would have breakfast or coffee with an attorney before spending a few hours working on my assignments. Some days I would be reading and comparing contract provisions, other days I was helping with a closing checklist or doing specific research for a client. I would usually have lunch around noon and some days I would have a small group meeting or a check-in with one of my mentors. I typically finished work around 5:30 pm and oftentimes we would have an event beginning at 6 pm.
What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position?
I had the opportunity to participate in a pro bono project alongside three other summer associates and a handful of Proskauer corporate attorneys. Each summer associate was paired with an associate and assigned a city and a team of eighth graders to mentor through a mock NBA expansion proposal. Each team then had to present why their city should be the site of the next NBA expansion team and answer questions from a panel of judges. This experience of mentoring young people with the same dreams I once had made me realize how close I am to finally becoming a lawyer, and that was really impactful. Also, my team won, so that was fun.
What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far?
Only working for ten weeks, especially if you have to move, can throw off your routine like crazy. If you are the kind of person who likes to exercise regularly or enjoys cooking, make the effort to prioritize finding a gym and a good grocery store that are close to your apartment. You will feel so much more grounded. Also, we don’t know anything yet about how to actually be a lawyer, but we are smart, capable people. It’s humbling to be “new” at something, but trust in yourself and your ability to learn and do well.
What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer?
Be open to mentorship and new experiences while also being vocal about your goals and interests. Not every assignment you get will be the most exciting, but every assignment is an opportunity to meet more attorneys, establish a positive reputation for yourself, and learn more about how to be a good associate. I really think having the attitude of “I’m happy to do whatever needs doing” is important. At the same time, don’t be shy to vocalize your interests or to reach out to lawyers who do the work you hope to do.
How are you spending your free time this summer?
I cofounded and codirected a youth football program called the Big North Takeover, so I have spent a lot of time this summer planning, executing, and doing follow-ups with our coaches and participants. We had seven NFL players, two NFL scouts, and five D1 players coach roughly eighty high school athletes, so it was a big lift. Otherwise, I plan to travel (I’m currently in Florida), take some much-needed rest, and spend some time in the Jersey Shore with my family.
What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall?
I’m really looking forward to the fall in Chicago and seeing so many of my friends I haven’t seen since leaving for New York this summer. At the law school, I am looking forward to being a student director of the Corporate Lab Clinic and to seeing what cool topics our new staffers come up with for the Business Law Review. Really, though, I’m counting down to graduation.
