A Sense of Growth Beyond the Law

Listen to this article

By Korey Wilson

Internships can be defining moments for students seeking a career. For Tony Torain II, his first internship not only confirmed that he was destined to be a lawyer, but placed him on the fast track to success.

At fifteen years old, Torain landed an internship at Drechsler, Larkin & Walters, P.C., a civil defense law firm in his hometown of Baltimore.

“I didn’t have a resume at the time, so I sent them my report card,” he says.

Initially, he filed documents and performed administrative duties. Torain’s responsibilities grew as he continued working for the firm during his undergraduate years at Towson University. The experience provided him with critical exposure to civil litigation before he entered law school.

“Internships are extremely important,” he says. “Having an opportunity to gain advanced knowledge in your field is invaluable.”

Today, Torain is an attorney at Littler Mendelson, P.C., the largest U.S.-based law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in employment and labor law matters. He specializes in labor law and represents companies in several areas, including collective bargaining, unfair labor practice charges, and arbitration proceedings.

Shortly after graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2011, he developed an interest in employment.

“The economy was terrible when I got out of law school. It was during the tail end of the recession,” he says. “I was fortunate to land a job at a law firm where I handled worker’s compensation and other employment law matters.”

The early work experience sparked a specific interest in labor law, which later led to his current position at Littler Mendelson, P.C.

When Torain is not practicing law, he gives presentations and writes articles on labor law and employment law issues. He says that he would like his work to serve as an example to fellow millennials, as well as to future generations.

His long-term goal is to establish a nonprofit organization for students of color that exposes them to careers in the legal field. The organization would provide mentorships and internships for students.

“We have a unique opportunity in this day and age to have a voice that our forefathers didn’t have. We have access to social media and other forms of technology that give us a broader voice and a wider audience,” he says. “For me, it means an opportunity to have a bigger influence than my parents did.”