Insights

Bettina Gatt started her journey with Ganado Advocates as an Intern in the summer of 2014 as part of Ganado Advocates’ summer internship programme. Now an Associate within Ganado Advocates’ investment services and funds team, Bettina walks us through her time as an intern and how it facilitated her growth that led her to her current position within the firm.

From your own experience, how would you describe the internship to others?

My internship experience at Ganado was a positive one. Initially, working amongst some of Malta’s top lawyers could feel slightly overwhelming, however, the more exposure you get to the practical aspect of things, the more confident you become. The summer internship programme not only teaches you how to deal with legal matters and handle client relationships, but it also gives you a taster of the day-to-day life of being a lawyer.

Do you feel your summer experience helped you grow as a law student?

Definitely. Being a law student and working in a law firm are two completely different experiences. As a law student, you do not get a feel of the practical side of things. The thought process of analysing a situation, the way in which you approach an issue and the “problem-solving” mentality are not something which you are taught during the law course.

Throughout the summer internship programme I was exposed to the thought process of different lawyers and various ways of tackling any given issue at hand, this helped me with my studies as I was more able to make sense of things and apply the law as opposed to simply reciting it.

Do you think it contributed to an easier student-lawyer transition and to your career progression within the firm?

Yes. The summer internship programme provided a solid basis (both mentally, as well as professionally) which I continued to, and still continue to, build upon. It gave me that push/confidence boost I needed before joining the firm.

Can you recount an important lesson you learnt during your summer internship?

Although you may feel like a small fish in a big ocean, your team members value your input however small it may be. Listen to the conversations taking place around you, and involve yourself in discussions, you’d be surprised how informative such conversations could be.

If you had to share one piece of advice with law students applying for the 2023 internship programme, what would it be?

Ask questions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! We’ve all been there. Make the most of the summer internship and dedicate as much time as you can to it, it’s a great way to broaden your knowledge and get a feel of handling client relationships, managing client expectations, and experiencing the day-to-day life of a lawyer.

Speak up when you feel you need to.

In a few words, walk us through your typical day as an associate.

I start my day by going to the gym and getting in a good workout, that’s my one hour to myself where I feel like I can switch off completely. I personally find that mentally it’s the best way to start my day.

Once I get to the office I make a coffee, my day always begins with a coffee. I then typically start by looking through my emails and coming up with a “to-do” list for the day. I also make it a point that every morning, I filter through the regulatory updates / relevant articles circulated that morning and flag the ones which interest me for later reading.

After lunch, my colleagues and I grab a quick coffee before continuing through the afternoon, which generally entails tackling the rest of my workload for the day and planning for the next day.

Interested to learn more about our summer internship programme? Apply here.