2022 DIVERSITY DATABASE UNDERWRITER Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Training & Assignments

• “The firm considered my work assignment preferences and made an effort to accommodate the type of experience I wanted to get. There were many training sessions provided during the summer program as well, which was pretty helpful.”
• “[I] really support the system of having a central coordinator who tries to assign you work opportunities based on your interests. I didn't feel pressure to hunt for my own assignments and appreciated the ability to try completely different departments, and it was because of this flexibility and the tax boot camp that I totally changed my intended area of practice.”
• “I received genuinely substantive assignments without being given overwhelming amounts of work so that I could properly take part in the social aspects of the summer program. …”
• “...Davis Polk's system is a great balance of all things which allows you to try assignments in a variety of practice groups, but still gain tangible experience to help you make a decision if you choose to join the firm as a first year. An assignment I was given during my summer opened an interest into a practice area I had no knowledge about, and this practice area ultimately became the practice area I chose to stay in. …”

Social Opportunities

• “The summer associate program was incredible. DPW flew us all out to NYC for the last week so that we could all bond in person. This was towards the tail end of the pandemic when all other firms had decided to keep their summer program remote.”
• “There was a concerted effort to form a summer associate class and identity. These efforts resulted in a high number of summer associates joining the firm. We arrived on our first day with a developed social support and peer network that I often rely on.”
• “Despite the entire summer program being remote, it was great to be able to connect with other associates. The recruiting team made every effort to have exciting, original programming for the summer, and I think we had an unparalleled experience compared to peer firms.”

Associate Experience vs. Summer Expectations

• “My summer set me up with very realistic expectations. I was doing the type of work I'm doing now as a first year, and every attorney I worked with was transparent about their experience at the firm and what my experience will be.”
• “Of course, full-time work involves more responsibilities (and fewer lunches). However, the differences in terms of the substantive work were not as large as some might think, partly because the summer associates are given real work.”
• “I went right into my practice area of choice, which happened to be picking up pace substantially. It is hard to prepare for the level of all-hours responsiveness the firm expects from [its] associates. Everyone is actually as nice as they seemed in the summer, but the expectations go up substantially when you come on full time.”

Favorite Summer Events

• “Trapeze school.”
• “Cake-baking class at MilkBar.”
• “We did an (electric) bike ride from downtown SF across Golden Gate to Sausalito, ate at a really fun seafood restaurant, then went to happy hour in the city!”

The Davis Polk summer program is primarily for students who have completed at least two years of law school and are interested in post-law school employment at the firm. The firm also hires a limited number of first-year students. Summer associates are encouraged to work on matters in the practice areas of interest to them. Two associates coordinate the distribution of work assignments. These coordinators meet with each summer associate on a regular basis throughout the program to discuss areas of interest and they design a realistic and exciting work experience for each summer associate.

Some summer associates have the opportunity to spend four weeks working in an overseas office or split their summer between the New York, Northern California or Washington DC offices. Davis Polk’s summer program offers over 20 formal training and practice area programs. Additionally, the program includes a wide range of cultural and social events.