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Maurquez Thompson and Isiah Robinson Share Importance of Planning Ahead With Hamilton County Herald
The Hamilton County Herald recently published “A Head Start on Legal Career,” an article highlighting Step-Up Chattanooga’s impact on Chambliss intern Maurquez Thompson and attorney Isiah Robinson.
Step-Up Chattanooga is a program designed for juniors and seniors in Hamilton County public schools that provides access to internships and career training programs with local companies, nonprofits, and public agencies. Students in the Step-Up program complete training in work readiness skills, develop a resume, and engage in mock interviews. Chambliss started participating in the program in 2016 to draw attention to students interested in the legal profession.
Maurquez, a Brainerd High School senior, joined Chambliss in 2022 as an intern. He plans to attend college in the fall, followed by law school. Maurquez explained, “I plan five years ahead so when I arrive, I can look back and be proud of what I’ve done.” He notes his interest in the legal industry began in seventh grade through his love for debate during history class. While Maurquez has achieved many accomplishments on his own, he gives credit to his internship at Chambliss and how it will open doors for him in the future. Maurquez has been able to work with shareholders Rick Hitchcock and Hugh Moore, among many others, during his time at Chambliss. The hands-on experience has given him exposure to the daily operations of a law firm and provided him with guidance, advice, and mentoring from the attorneys.
Isiah, who joined Chambliss in 2020 as a litigation attorney, was in the Step-Up program and interned for the firm before attending college at the University of the South. Years later, while studying at the University Of Tennessee College Of Law, Isiah recalls the practical experience and exposure that gave him an advantage over some other students. He stated, “I was able to gain more insight from what was being taught in class.”
Here’s a snapshot from the article:
“Ensuring Chambliss develops leaders who can carry its legacies and clients forward requires more than pursuing top graduates from law school, Murray continues, it also involves building a recruiting pipeline that reaches all the way to local high schools.
A key component of this conduit of talent is the firm’s participation in Step-Up Chattanooga, a Public Education Foundation program that facilitates paid internships at local companies, nonprofits and public agencies.”
…”Chambliss spares no opportunity to cultivate aspiring legal professionals. In addition to a long history of working with interns, the firm provides paralegal apprenticeships through a partnership with Chattanooga State Community College, offers mentoring to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga business students through its Stophel Scholars program and regularly invites local students to its home in the Liberty Tower on Chestnut Street for meet-and-greets and job shadowing.”
Read the full Hamilton County Herald article, “A Head Start on Legal Career.“