2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE PREMIUM SPONSOR Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Mentors

• “Akin gives summer associates the opportunity to try a variety of practice groups and diverse types of assignments within each practice group. The firm provides regular training and mentorship opportunities so that summer associates feel equipped to handle their assignments.”
• “There is definitely a ‘make it what you want’ approach during the summer. If you want to do a lot of work, people will definitely find it for you. I also felt the work was needed. It didn't feel like people were making up assignments for me to do.”
• “There were numerous trainings on each general practice area of the firm, and the free market system allowed me to take as many assignments in each as I wanted. Although free market, Akin has assigning attorneys who help guide the choices of each SA, which can be extremely helpful (especially if you're undecided). The assignments were all meaningful, and I was doing junior-level work, including substantive drafting assignments and memo drafting.” 
• “I was assigned meaningful work assignments in areas that I had expressed interest in learning more about. I was given the ability to learn from the assignments by trying to figure them out on my own but felt entirely comfortable asking for guidance and support as I worked through them. After completing each assignment, I received substantive feedback that included not only what changes should be made but also the reasons for making them.”

• “The best event was the end-of-summer celebration, where the firm rented out a rooftop near the office and invited all attorneys to attend. During the event, they announced that every single summer associate was being given a full-time offer to return.”
• Excellent social programming and camaraderie. There was approximately one major after-work event per week, along with nearly daily lunches to get to know different attorneys. I especially liked going to see the Lion King at the Kennedy Center, a baseball game at Nationals’ stadium, and a tour of the Supreme Court.”
• “The social events during the summer associate program were outstanding. The firm provided several events over the course of the program, but not so many as to be overwhelming. These events were fun and allowed summer associates more than enough opportunities to meet attorneys so we could get to know them and their practice areas. Favorite events included going to Astros games, the end of summer event, and impromptu happy hours and dinners.”
• “I had regular and really compelling social interactions with firm attorneys and the other summers. We very frequently got lunch or coffee with attorneys and were encouraged to seek out those opportunities ourselves as well as accepting existing invitations. The summer class developed tight relationships, which have thus far held into our first year as associates. The social events outside of work hours were good, but there were a lot of them, which felt almost like overkill.”

• “I have not been negatively surprised in any way. On the other hand, a pleasant surprise was finding out that there was not a rotation system within corporate anymore.”
• “Summer associates can truly take work from nearly any practice group whereas first years are generally expected to work within their groups. That being said, there are plenty of projects that cross practice groups if you want to try different work. First-year litigation work involves mostly doc review and legal research.”
• “Pretty one-to-one. Obviously, you're not working nearly as hard as a SA as you are as a junior associate, but the kind of work I did as a SA is very similar to the work I'm doing as a junior.”
• “The firm was very transparent when I was a summer associate that there are high expectations for its attorneys, but it is understanding when things arise in our personal lives and we need to handle them. It has been my experience that this is entirely true.”

• “The boat tour around Manhattan, as well as the Mets game at Citi field.”
• “My favorite summer event was going to see Hadestown on Broadway.”
• “Arcade night.”
• “Poker night at a partner's house.”

Akin summer associates work on real matters for real clients. Summer associates gain in-depth exposure to the firm’s practices and hands-on experience with clients and work that interests them. With training, mentorship, teamwork, and social activities, summer associates get a realistic and meaningful picture of firm life. Summer associates participate in pro bono projects through organizations with which Akin has a pro bono partnership. These projects are geared to summer associates’ interests and maximize front-line responsibility while ensuring appropriate supervision from experienced attorneys. Summer associates receive feedback on a project-by-project basis and at mid-summer and end-of-summer reviews.