Fraser Stryker welcomed another outstanding class of talented law students to our 2026 Summer Associate Program, including Emma Collins, one of this year’s 2L participants. Emma is a student at the University of Iowa College of Law and a member of the Organization of Women Law Students and Staff (OWLSS).
Emma completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, earning a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology, with honors. She served as a Student Conduct Board Officer with the University’s Student Affairs Office.
Q: Going into the program, what areas of law were you most drawn to? How have your interests shifted, or become more focused, through your time here?
A: Going into the program, I knew I wanted to focus on litigation. However, after working with Mark Curley and Kristin Crone, I’ve become interested in immigration law as well. As I begin my legal career, I hope to practice both civil litigation and immigration law so I can gain experience in each and determine which area is the best fit for me.
Q: What skills did you strengthen most during your time here, legal or otherwise?
A: The skill I strengthened the most during my time here was legal writing, especially brief writing. Working on a variety of briefs gave me valuable experience organizing legal arguments, conducting research, and writing more clearly and persuasively.
Q: Looking back, what’s one piece of advice you’d give yourself at the start of the summer?
A: If I could give myself one piece of advice before starting the summer, it would be to trust myself. I was initially anxious about doing real legal work because it didn’t feel like the 1L core classes had fully prepared me. But that anxiety turned out to be unnecessary. Everyone at Fraser Stryker is genuinely invested in your success and provides the support and tools you need to grow. Over the summer, I watched my confidence build day by day. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t spent a single moment worrying and had instead trusted my ability to produce good work.
Q: What insights or words of wisdom would you pass along to next year’s Summer Associate class?
A: I would encourage next year’s Summer Associates to keep an open mind. When I started my first summer here, I was convinced that I wanted to practice transactional law. However, after being exposed to litigation, I realized how much I enjoyed it. That experience motivated me to step outside my comfort zone, including participating in two semesters of moot court during my 2L year, to see if litigation was the right fit. Now, I know that I want to pursue litigation, and I’m grateful that I stayed open to new opportunities instead of limiting myself to what I thought I wanted at the beginning.
About Fraser Stryker’s Summer Associate Program
The Summer Associate Program is structured to give summer associates a realistic experience, which is comparable to that of a first-year attorney. Visit the Fraser Stryker Summer Associate Program page to learn more about our program.
This article has been prepared for general information purposes and (1) does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship, (2) is not intended as a solicitation, (3) is not intended to convey or constitute legal advice, and (4) is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney. Always seek professional counsel prior to taking action.