Precision in Practice: Attention to Detail and Developing Liaison Skills
Over the past three years, I have had the incredible opportunity to serve as the sole intern at the Office of the Board of Trustees at the University of South Carolina. I started September of my sophomore year, and to say I was in over my head would be an understatement. Every day I walked up to our office suite, hoping I could melt into the ground and just not mess something up. My confidence was lacking, and the skills needed for my primary role in contract review and approval were not yet up to par, especially when it came to communication as a liaison. The office plays a pivotal role in bridging the Trustees and the University, each with its own responsibilities and timelines. I dove in without fully grasping the critical importance of communication, attention coordination, and effective writing. Through firsthand experience in the Office of the Board of Trustees I developed professional communication and attention to detail to fulfill our goals.
My primary responsibility involves preparing contracts for the Secretary of the University, Cameron Howell’s signature, as all contracts within the USC system require his approval (contract example see below). This entails confirming an attorney in the legal office has approved the agreement. Then Cameron signs and dates as the authorized university representative, and I sign as the witness, showing his signature was not forged.
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Following this, I organize and send the contracts to the requesting department based on the contract approval form (CAF). I also add updates in the contract approval software system, based on the contract ID number, putting in the dates the agreements entered and exited our office. This is to assure the legal office that we are processing the agreements in an accurate and efficient timeline. This role necessitates close collaboration with the University's Legal Office. They send contracts to our office for approval, and I must coordinate with them to communicate which aspects need attention, if any alterations were made by the attorneys, and answer questions from the requesting department keeping them in the loop (email example).
Initially, my focus was misplaced. I struggled with attention to detail, leading to missed changes in contracts and a slowdown in the process. This, in turn, impacted my role as a liaison for the Trustees, where ineffective communication and lack of attention coordination strained relationships between the Trustees and the University. I was fixated on sending contracts out quickly rather than accurately, making mistakes in relationships by oversharing information instead of being brief and precise. Cameron Howell, the Secretary of the University and thus the Secretary of the Board, and my mentor, played a pivotal role in guiding me through this learning curve. Initially intimidating, I perceived him as aggressive and intense.
Taking POLI 450: Constitutional Law 1, proved to be a turning point. Learning how to write a case brief and interpreting Supreme Court decisions provided insights into effective communication. Within Supreme Court decisions, merit briefs address the legal merits of the issues at hand and help the justices understand the complexities of the case. Through this course we learned that these merit briefs serve three main functions, one being to coordinate judicial attention around specific issues (lecture notes see below).
Through learning this, then writing my own case briefs for various cases we studied (Gibbons v. Ogden), I was better able to understand that effective communication is about identifying fundamental details, grasping key principles, and delivering information concisely. Because of this, I was able to strengthen my relationships within the legal team and my office.
Through contract approval, and the constitutional law course, I was able to recognize the importance of being attentive to details, and thus this bettered me as a liaison. I was able to, even in a short amount of time, recognize the key points, and make sure the Trustee got their question answered in an efficient manner. After understanding the importance of key principles and delivering crucial details, I was better able to answer questions, and be an intermediary. I grew in confidence to answer the questions, whether about small specifics such as meeting times or university events, but also more significant questions such as topics for future board meetings. My ability to adapt, and my past struggles that turned into growth allowed me to be more self-assured in my capabilities, improving me as a liaison.
Studying Constitutional Law not only bettered my attention to detail but also helped me decipher Cameron, my boss’s leadership style. Before, I naively understood him as intense, but later, I recognized that his leadership style was characterized by meticulousness, coupled with concise and direct communication. One of the key takeaways from the course was the importance of attention coordination, a skill Cameron seamlessly integrated into his leadership style. His ability to focus on intricate details without losing sight of the broader picture displayed a strategic approach that mirrored the careful examination required in constitutional law. This meticulous attention to detail fostered an environment where every aspect of a project was thoroughly analyzed, contributing to informed decision-making, and making him such an effective liaison. Furthermore, Cameron's inclination for concise and direct communication emerged as a powerful tool for fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. By deciphering Cameron's leadership style through the lens of Constitutional Law, I not only gained a more accurate appreciation for his methods but also began to incorporate similar principles into my own leadership approach.
Learning these skills, specifically attention to detail will help me in the long run and in my future endeavors. Following graduation, I will be attending law school, and this skill will be crucial in my success for both time in school, and in my future legal practices. During school, with case briefing, legal research, and learning to write like a lawyer I must be able to extract key facts from cases, critical information from research, and precise arguments in my writing. In practice, attention to detail is crucial for effective advocacy. Without understanding the specifics and intricate details of every situation, I will be unable to advocate for my client and present the arguments of the case. The skills I have cultivated during my time at Carolina have laid a foundation for my career, and I look forward to expanding this knowledge in practice.
My role with the Office of the Board of Trustees functioned as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. The heavy responsibility I am given daily in my role continues to prepare me for practical experience in the real world. Although, when I first started the pressure forced me to make mistakes, the learning experience has allowed me to learn professional communication skills, attention to detail, and grow in confidence.
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I began asking more questions preemptively, signaling my respect for the Legal office’s expertise, and displaying my adaptability. This allowed me to become more confident in my role as well. I had more confidence in asking questions when I was unsure about parts of contracts. Confidence to say when I was struggling or when I needed help, rather than just trying to scathe by has allowed me to learn and grow more in the role, take on more tasks, and be more proactive in my role. This increased level of communication and collaboration strengthened my individual performance within contract approval. As a result, I recognized my ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with the legal office and our team. By focusing more on being attentive to details, no matter how small, I was also able to be a better liaison. Trustees quickly call our office, but even if the call is short, making sure the information they need, especially the specifics, is vital.