Joshua Johnston

Bexar County Civil District Court Staff Attorney’s Office – San Antonio, TX

What do you like most about your job?  

I enjoy and appreciate the camaraderie in the workplace and how closely knit the staff attorneys and the interns are with each other. The staff attorneys are amazing mentors who are always willing to explain something in depth, and my fellow interns are exceptional teammates who complement each other well and have each other’s backs.

How do you think this experience has helped you in your career path?

As someone who plans on practicing in Bexar County, I believe the knowledge I have acquired about Texas Civil Procedure and how the Bexar County Civil District Court operates will prove invaluable. The relationships I formed with clerks, judges, and attorneys at Bexar County Courthouse has provided me a good network within the Bexar County legal community. Reviewing pleadings on a daily basis has given me a strong idea of what good (and not so good) pleadings look like, and how I will draft them as an attorney. I believe that each of these experiences will prepare me for the real world after law school.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at this job?

Talking to self-representing litigants about the necessary procedures and how to get their cases moving forward has been an eye-opening experience. It has taught me interpersonal skills such as how to explain complex concepts in simple terms, and how to be gentle with people going through difficult situations. The way I will treat my future clients as an attorney will certainly derive from the skills that I am learning right now as an intern. Considering how communication with clients is arguably the most important aspect of practicing law, this experience is incredibly important.