“Co-op affirmed that I could successfully translate my legal skills into the workplace.
Sebastien Philemon ’24
Sebastien Philemon chose Northeastern Law because of the school’s social justice mission. “As a child of immigrants, I feel driven to make an impact on the social issues that affect us all on a daily basis,” says Sebastien. Through his co-ops with two law firms, Sebastien experienced firsthand how lawyers in the private sector can use their skills and resources in pro bono cases.
During a short co-op with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations, Sebastien did a deep dive into the world of public sector employees. “I saw how government agencies can impact people’s lives,” said Sebastien, who worked on a variety of issues related to dispute resolution and observed arbitrations and strike investigations. “Working alongside labor law attorneys provided me with substantive opportunities to help people address complex employment situations.”
On a co-op with Chief Justice Kimberly Budd at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Sebastien honed his legal research and writing skills. “The value of a judicial internship lies in how much you learn by doing legal research and writing,” explains Sebastien. “When drafting a document, you go through so many rounds of revisions and discussion, thinking through the answers to legal questions — you just get better at it over time. On this co-op, I saw up close how the law works as a system that affects everyone. The gears really started to crank in my head.”
Now, as a law clerk at Ropes & Gray, Sebastien is putting all his experiences together. “Northeastern challenged me to think critically about how the private sector can make an impact. I plan to use my skills to help the public in any way possible.”
Nutter McClennen & Fish,Boston, Massachusetts
Working with the firm’s litigation, private client, real estate and corporate departments, Sebastien honed his legal research and writing skills and also completed substantive work on a pro bono case.
- Black Law Students Association (secretary)
- First-Generation Law Association
- Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition (multiple awards)
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Boston, Massachusetts
Working under the direction of Chief Justice Kimberly Budd, Sebastien drafted bench memoranda and numerous further appellate review memoranda to provide analyses of likely case outcomes. He also had the opportunity to observe oral arguments each month.
- Corporations
- Evidence
- Intellectual Property
- Law Practice Management
- Mindfulness and the Law
- Negotiation
Intellectual Property Law
In this clinic, Sebastien offered advice on clients’ rights to their published works. Through assisting clients in all stages of the trademark application process, he gained a stronger grasp of trademark and copyright law.
In the Legal Skills in Social Context program, Sebastien worked with first-year students for two consecutive semesters on projects related to immigration law.
Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts
Sebastien worked almost exclusively with litigators and researched state and federal case law in connection with pending antitrust, copyright, pro bono and other civil cases. This summer associate position led to a post-graduate job offer.
Sebastien was selected as the 2023 Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholar by Ropes & Gray.