What type of work is given to summer associates?
The work experience of a summer associate is similar in diversity and responsibility to that of a new associate. The summer program affords a broad exposure to and participation in our practice (including our pro bono activities), as well as significant interaction with clients and other lawyers on challenging matters. Summer associates are also encouraged to participate in practice area meetings and training lunches held throughout the summer. These meetings offer an informal setting in which summer associates can become better acquainted with our practice and our lawyers.
Our Summer Associates become involved in real work for real clients – not “make-work.” We give Summer Associates work that would be appropriate for First and Second Year Associates, including legal research, drafting legal memoranda, court papers, corporate or transaction documents, participating in a range of activities in connection with corporate transactions or litigation matters, assisting with discovery or due diligence, and a variety of other projects.
We want summer associates to experience a breadth of legal areas and to get some sense of the diverse personalities at the firm. Examples of summer associate work assignments include tracking and analyzing legislation, conducting legal research, drafting motions and briefs, attending hearings and depositions, participating in negotiation and strategy sessions, drafting contracts, and much more. In recent years we’ve asked summer associates to work on issues such as cutting-edge telecommunications problems, Indian tribal sovereignty, commercial speech under the First Amendment, and political asylum.
