As summer wraps up and classes prepare to begin, I have been reflecting on my experience in the law clerk program at Plakas Mannos.
I began my clerkship at Plakas Mannos during my 2L year, just one week before the spring semester began. That unique timeline has shaped my experience here. After nearly eight months with the firm, I can confidently say that Plakas Mannos has changed me both as a law student and as a soon-to-be young lawyer.
During law school, you hear stories about different firms and quickly become familiar with the reputations they carry. Having grown up in Stark County, I was already aware of Plakas Mannos's reputation: "the best," fierce advocates," "excellent attorneys," and "seriously hard-working".
While some may have found those descriptions intimidating, I was drawn to them.
I have always lived by the motto, "If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best." Plakas Mannos' reputation was one of the many reasons I was so eager for the opportunity to work here.
The attorneys I have had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside have only reinforced that reputation. They work unbelievably hard, and it shows in their results. I am still amazed by their ability to manage so many matters while continuing to give each case an extraordinary level of effort, thought, and attention.
Working in an environment where expectations are high, naturally pushes you to raise your own standards. When I am given an assignment, I know it is not simply busy work. It is a piece of a real case that an attorney is entrusting me to complete with care and attention. My daily work has real-world implications, and that has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my clerkship at Plakas Mannos.
Throughout my clerkship, I have had the opportunity to complete many different types of assignments across numerous areas of law. Every day looks a little different and presents a new challenge, much like the day-to-day practice of an attorney. As a law student, that exposure has been invaluable. My clerkship has allowed me to identify my strengths, recognize areas where I can improve, and better understand the areas of law that interest me the most.
Another invaluable part of the clerkship program has been the opportunity to observe and participate in the firm's case discussions. Collaboration is a major part of the culture at Plakas Mannos, and it strengthens the work done on every case.
Law clerks are not expected to simply sit back and observe. We are given opportunities to participate in- and sometimes lead- discussions in meaningful ways. Through Arguments AI Fresco, mock appellate arguments, roundtable discussions, and other exercises; clerks are encouraged to dive deeply into a case or legal issue, develop our own theories and arguments, and present them to the firm
What has stood out of me most is that the attorneys genuinely value unique perspectives and out-of-the-box thinking. They do not ask for our thoughts simply as an academic exercise. They listen, challenge us, and use those discussions to help shape their approach to actual cases.
The attorneys at Plakas Mannos are rarely looking for the easiest route or the most traditional argument. They are willing to ask whether there is a better one. They want to make arguments that have not been made before, challenge existing assumptions, and, when neccessary, help create new precedent. Because sometimes that is the only wasy meaningful change happens.
One of the most memorable conversations I had with Lee Plakas this summer came during a meeting about a case we were handling. He asked for my thoughts on an issue I had previously researched. I summarized the relevant caselaw and explained how it informed my opinion.
Then he asked me, "But what does your gut tell you? Not the caselaw."
That question has stayed with me.
He went on to explain that change does not happen when you approach every problem by first identifying all the reasons something cannot be done. When you recognize that something is wrong, that an injustice has occurred, or that someone has suffered because of it, the goal is to determine what can be done to correct it- and how to persuade others that it should be corrected.
The lesson was not to disregard the law. It was to avoid allowing the current state of the law to limit your ability to see what justice may require.
Start with what is right. Then figure out how to get there.
That mindset helped me better understand why Plakas Mannos has earned its reputation for being made up of fierce advocates. Most importantly, it is the kind of lesson that the attorneys here take the time impart to their law clerks.
Being surrounded by people who refuse to settle for average has also changed the standard I set for myself. As a law clerk, I naturally want to impress the attorneys with the quality of my work. But over time, that motivation has become something more. Watching the people around me consistently exceeding expectations has made me want to do the same- not simply because someone else expects it, but because I now expect more from myself.
The attorneys are only one part of what has made my clerkship so meaningful. The paralegals and support staff at Plakas Mannos have been incredibly welcoming and generous with their time. Even when they are busy with their own responsibilities, they are always willing to answer a question, offer guidance, or help a law clerk navigate something unfamiliar. Their support made my transition into the firm easier and has made my experience here even more rewarding.
Another defining part of my clerkship has been the mentorship I have received. When I began at Plakas Mannos, I was paired with an associate attorney who serves as my mentor. While I look up to all the attorneys at the firm, I have been fortunate to develop both a meaningful professional relationship and a friendship with my mentor.
Knowing that I have someone within the firm whom I can approach with any question or concern has made an enormous difference. She has taken me under her wing and gone above and beyond to make sure my experience has been both enjoyable and fulfilling. I have no doubt that her mentorship will extend far beyond my time in the law clerk program.
More broadly, this clerkship program has given me a network of attorneys and professionals who are invested in my development and who have helped shape the lawyer I aspire to become.
I came to Plakas Mannos believing that if you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best. After nearly eight months here, that phrase means more to me than it did when I started.
I have learned that being "the best" is not simply about results. It is about the work ethic behind those results, the willingness to think differently, the courage to challenge what has always been done, the commitment to your clients, and the expectation that you will continue raising the standard for yourself.
Those are lessons I will carry with my long after my clerkship ends.