Nyhan 2026 Summer Interns Gain Hands-On Trial and Litigation Experience

Nyhan is pleased to celebrate the strides made by Daniel Gacek, Virginia Lazariciu, Elizabeth Ponder, and Jessica Vestal, who joined the team this summer as interns.

Each intern worked closely with two mentoring attorneys, one associate and one partner, who guided them through our structured training program, designed to give them insight into the firm’s day-to-day practices and a clear path toward building a strong legal career.

This year, the group gained hands-on experience by:

• Learning the basics of Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law
• Shadowing oral arguments, depositions, and pretrial hearings
• Participating in Nyhan’s structured mock projects, including pro se settlement hearings, opening letters, IME background letters, pretrial conferences, evidence depositions, and a trial
• Assisting attorneys with projects, including conducting legal research, trial support preparation, and drafting proposed decisions, direct- and cross-examination questions, and medical chronologies
• Attending Experiential Learning lectures from firm clients
• Attending a Cook County Board meeting

Special congratulations to Elizabeth Ponder, who earned The Kim Godden Best Witness Award in Nyhan’s mock trials!

“We are very pleased with what our summer interns accomplished this year,” said Managing Shareholder Robert E. Harrington Jr. “Each of them played a meaningful role in the matters they supported, and we look forward to their return to the firm following law school graduation.”

The interns shared:

“The mock assignments, mixed in with real projects from my mentors, provided a good glimpse into the work that an associate would work on at the firm while also fostering a learning environment where I could ask questions and embrace the learning curve.”

“My internal goals for this summer were to learn more about workers’ compensation, to gain a strong sense of firm culture, and to gain practical experience that I can carry with me throughout my legal career. Participating in Nyhan’s summer program certainly achieved all of these goals.”

“[My mentors] were always such a great resource for templates of documents for mock projects, a listening ear when I needed to talk through a project, and always communicating with me.”

“We got to spend time with William A. Lowry during lunch lectures and in his capacity as Commissioner, which was very rewarding. Bob and Chris were very present and active throughout the entire summer.”

Nyhan’s mission is to create an environment that fosters professional development and excellence. Our internship program provides individuals with unparalleled opportunities and comprehensive support, ensuring their success aligns with the continued prosperity of our firm.