This past year has been full of firsts—and a few seconds too: first bar exam, second bar exam, first post-graduate fellowship, and the first time realizing that law school really does rewire the way you think.
One of the things that’s helped me most is finding the right resources. The ones that meet you where you are, whether that’s trying to understand a new area of law, connect with people who’ve already been there, or figure out what kind of attorney you actually want to be. These are five resources I’ve found most helpful.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Update 2026
As someone still building out my practice areas, I’ve been intentional about attending programming that helps me understand where the law is heading. ICLE seminars do exactly that. I particularly like this update because it explains the topic in a way that is understandable for those new to the area of law and those who actually work with SaaS agreements.
I won’t give too much away, but the seminar starts by breaking down the difference between data privacy and cybersecurity (which are not the same thing, even though some people may use them interchangeably), it then talks about global regulatory, SaaS agreement components, and risk allocation in data protection agreements.
What I appreciated the most was how practical the conversation felt. The session on GenAI in software agreements was especially useful because it’s one of those areas where the law is still trying to catch up and constantly evolving.
Labor & Employment Law Institute
Attending this program was one of the highlights of my fellowship—and not just because of the free swag! Coming from a union organizing background, I found the institute especially valuable because it offered practical, up-to-date guidance on NLRB developments, ADA, EEO issues, and other emerging workplace challenges. What really stood out to me is how timely many of the sessions felt, particularly the discussions on AI hiring tool audits and immigration investigations.
And for newer attorneys, there is something special about being surrounded by both plaintiff and defense attorneys from across Michigan and the country who are trying to navigate the same questions you are.
ICLE Community (My Community)
The ICLE Community has become one of the most useful spaces I’ve found for staying connected with what Michigan practitioners are actually dealing with in real time. People talk about everything from new developments in Michigan law to the realities of managing client expectations, navigating trial court procedures, and more.
Self-Assessment for Starting Your Own Law Firm
I’m not planning to start my own firm anytime soon, but I still found this assessment incredibly helpful because it forces you to think beyond logistics and ask what kind of attorney and person you want to be. You can find this assessment by searching the Open a Law Practice how-to kit.
The assessment looks at five different life domains: mental, professional, emotional, social, and physical. I appreciate the framing because starting a practice and being an attorney affects all of them, whether people realize it or not.
What I liked most is that it doesn’t romanticize entrepreneurship or the field. It asks practical questions about sustainability, support systems, stress, and capacity. At the end, it points you toward a full business planning guide that feels more thoughtful than a checklist, not because it will help you answer all the questions, but because it will help you ask the right questions.
How Many District Courts Still Use Virtual Hearings? A 2026 Snapshot for Practitioners
This one is mine, and I’m including it because the resource I needed didn’t exist, so I wrote it. I also wrote an accompanying blog post focusing on circuit courts in Michigan.
I put together this statewide snapshot using publicly available court information to identify how Michigan district courts still use virtual hearings since the pandemic. The answer is messy because Michigan courts have taken very different paths on virtual access. Some courts have fully embraced Zoom and virtual livestreaming, while others have returned to in-person operations with little to no digital footprint.
This resource is a reminder that for attorneys practicing across multiple counties, this inconsistency can create real challenges. Michigan has not standardized virtual-hearing practices statewide, which may be something worth reconsidering in the future for both accessibility and consistency reasons.
Conclusions
As I wrap up my fellowship this week, I’ve been reflecting on how much I’ve gained from my time at ICLE—not just the resources, programming, and great swag, but the mentorship and sense of community too. It has genuinely been one of the most meaningful professional experiences I’ve had so far.
What makes ICLE different is how deeply the team cares about the work and supports attorneys and legal professionals in providing thoughtful, effective representation to their clients. In a profession that can sometimes feel isolating, ICLE has felt like a place invested in helping people learn, grown, and succeed. It truly is a one-of-a-kind resource.