Summer Experience Spotlight: Summer Williams at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
This summer, Saint Louis University School of Law Student Summer Williams (2L) worked with the Advocates for Family Health Unit at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM), where she assisted Medicaid-eligible Missourians navigating complex managed care systems.
“When I was given my first task of calling clients and asking them questions about their situation, I felt a great sense of fulfillment in making a small contribution toward a greater purpose that I feel so strongly about,” Williams said. “I am passionate about affordable access to health care, and Legal Services exists as a fundamental support in expanding access to civil representation for low-income individuals.”
“I was profoundly motivated by the clients themselves in their pursuit to advocate for themselves and their families despite the struggles they face day to day,” she added. “For many, including myself, health care expenses can create a sense of powerlessness.”
Her work took on added urgency after the May tornado in St. Louis. Williams’ unit joined canvassing efforts to support recovery. “I was struck by the community’s resilience and its ability to come together so quickly to support individuals and families impacted by the disaster. It was truly inspiring, and I am grateful to have been a part of it.”
Reflecting on her experience, Williams emphasized the barriers clients face in accessing coverage. “It is disheartening to see how many systems work against health equity, disenfranchising the most vulnerable populations whose health and well-being should be treated as invaluable to our society,” she said.
One experience that stood out to her particularly was her very first client meeting.
“The client arrived with two huge piles of documents, and my task was to sort through them to identify what might be useful for their case — an exercise that gave me a concrete image of how central evidence is to legal practice,” she recalled. Watching her colleagues patiently reassure the client also left a lasting impression: “Witnessing the importance of building trust with a client is something I am grateful for, and it helped me grow significantly on a professional level.”
Looking back on the summer, Williams said the collaborative spirit of LSEM shaped her vision of her future career.
“The opportunity to work with attorneys, health care advocates, and social workers and see how they combined their skills to help clients showed me the value of a collaborative work environment where diverse professionals contribute to a shared mission," she said. "The experience I had at this great organization shaped my understanding of the kind of lawyer I want to be: someone who not only provides legal expertise but also works alongside others to pursue holistic solutions that advance social justice.”