Ryan Potter After graduating from Loyola College in Maryland in 1999 with a degree in Political Science, I entered the University of Maryland School of Law with some sense of uncertainty as to what I hoped to pursue and obtain in my professional career. As a first year student, several of my professors and colleagues with prior work experience suggested that I apply for a summer position with Gallagher Evelius & Jones. I was relatively unfamiliar with the local legal community, but they all held Gallagher in the highest esteem and described it as somewhat of an anomaly: a law firm with a vibrant and sophisticated practice that was also committed to the community and genuinely concerned for the well-being of each and every employee. After completing that first year of law school, I was fortunate to spend the summer at Gallagher, and the firm has exceeded my expectations in every respect ever since. From my earliest days as a full-time lawyer, the firm has allowed me to assume substantial, meaningful responsibility representing clients whose missions and goals I truly believe in. While many young lawyers in private practice labor behind the scenes on discrete portions of larger projects, with little or no client contact, I have been encouraged to develop strong client relationships and to shepherd significant projects from commencement to completion. At the same time, the firm recognizes that young lawyers will often need substantial support and guidance, and my colleagues are, to an individual, consistently enthusiastic in providing the necessary assistance. Perhaps most importantly, there is a unique, somewhat intangible "feel" about the firm that gives rise to a very real sense of loyalty and camaraderie. From our ever-smiling and much beloved receptionist, to the firm's uncommonly accessible management, one need not spend a great deal of time in our office to understand that the people at Gallagher genuinely care for one another. This, in turn, enables us to provide a remarkably consistent, yet impassioned level of client service that remains uncluttered by any sense of internal competition. I am proud to associate myself with this law firm and its clients. I think that everyone here recognizes that Gallagher is a special place, a place that affords unparalleled opportunities to build a career amongst some of the most capable, devoted, and selfless individuals that one could ever hope to encounter. For these reasons, I am able to count myself among those rare and fortunate persons who view each workday as a privilege, not a burden.