Han Nguyen
Litigation Services
Philadelphia Office

I first came to Schnader in May 1999 as a summer associate after my second year in law school. At first, I was unsure if the big firm practice was right for me. I was one of those students who was skeptical of how well big firms treated their associates. By the end of my summer, I realized that my concerns were completely unfounded. I am now a fourth-year associate in the litigation department and I know that I made the right decision in coming to Schnader.

Not long after joining the firm, I was handling court appearances and client interviews on my own. At first it was quite overwhelming - and at times still is - but I am glad that the firm made it a point to give me practical experience rather than burying me in document reviews that often befall junior associates at other firms.

Today, my practice is varied, ranging from breach of contract to professional malpractice to state and local tax litigation. As a litigator, I am often drawn into contentious situations, which is somewhat difficult for me because I am not argumentative or aggressive by nature. However, I am learning from the partners with whom I work that you can be an effective litigator without being overly aggressive or contentious.

I also practice some immigration law here at the firm. In fact, my most enjoyable experiences at Schnader have involved immigration matters. For example, I assisted a foreign family in obtaining an extension on their visa so that their young daughter could stay in the country and receive medical attention from Children's Hospital. I was also part of a legal team at Schnader that successfully obtained permanent residency status for an orphaned minor who came to the United States temporarily with her guardian and was subsequently abandoned. Working together with our Family Law Department, we convinced the local authorities to appoint a new guardian for her in this country; and with the appropriate Orphans' Court documents in place, we successfully petitioned the INS for permanent residency status. Both of these cases were pro bono matters which the firm fully supported. I am not sure if I would have had these opportunities at other firms nor do I think that other firms would have devoted the inter-departmental resources necessary to see these matters through. At Schnader, the firm is truly committed to its pro bono clients, and I learned that first-hand while working on these two matters.

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