Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

• “Was given substantive work assignments, including legal research and drafting legal memos. Felt like I was given a realistic view into what life as a first-year associate would be like.”
• “Debevoise does a great job providing training to their summer associates. It is a pretty laid-back experience, and summers are able to pick up as much (or as little) work as they want. It is also possible to try both litigation and corporate work, and more-senior attorneys were really willing to talk about their careers and help guide summers.”
• “Work assignments are both centrally staffed and organically given based on direct interaction. The Debevoise staffing team did an excellent job incorporating our practice-group interests and provided a variety of work across many different groups.”
• “Debevoise did an excellent job giving summers real meaningful work. While it was hard at times, the fact that I was doing real, billable work made the hours feel worth it and served me well upon return to the firm.”

• “The social programming was extensive and well-organized. The firm hosted weekly events ranging from cooking classes and ping-pong tournaments to Shakespeare in the Park, visits to the Central Park Zoo, and fitness activities such as SoulCycle and solidcore classes. These events created a relaxed and inclusive environment that allowed summer associates to build strong relationships with one another, as well as with associates who were accessible and supportive mentors throughout the program.”
• “Multiple firm-hosted happy hours and events, as well as firm-wide events. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the summer associate class seemed to get along. It's not the kind of firm where people are going out late into the night every day, but planned events were well-attended. I think associates made an effort to include us and make everyone feel welcome, which was much appreciated. Central Park Zoo event was probably my favorite because it was very well-attended by all practice areas and it was great to see everyone all together.”
• “There were a lot of firm-sponsored social events. I appreciated that none of the social events were scheduled on the weekends. The other summer associates were really nice, and people were willing to become closer friends outside of work. There wasn't much hanging out outside of firm-sponsored events, but if that's what you were looking for, it was possible.”
• “They had a bunch of fun summer events, one of the biggest being the annual firm-wide event at the Central Park Zoo, but for the summers specifically, they organized a lot of activities like bowling or mini golf or a casino night. I appreciated how the senior and junior associates at the firm were given stipends to take us out for lunch/dinner or for activities like manicures with a high budget per person.”

• “It was less interactive in terms of training than I expected.”
• “One change in expectations I observed after joining the firm as an associate is that mentorship becomes more self-directed. During the summer program, mentorship was particularly robust, with mentors taking the initiative to regularly check in and ensure that summer associates felt supported and comfortable. As an associate, that dynamic shifts: Mentorship remains available and accessible, but associates are expected to take greater initiative in scheduling meetings, asking questions, and seeking guidance. This change reflects the increased independence and responsibility that comes with transitioning into the associate role.”
• “Pleasantly surprised by how quickly they onboard you onto a team and give you the exposure that many of my friends at other firms still lack.”
• “In some ways, we have more and less agency in responsibility as a full-time associate. As a summer associate, we had the ability to try many different practice groups and types of assignment. While the full-time program offers a rotation on the corporate side, there is inherently less variety given we are staffed to one group at a time. That said, I now have much more context on the why and how the work is performed within my group.”

During the summer, you will work closely with Debevoise partners, counsel, and associates on substantive client matters from the outset, including work tied to our private equity, M&A, funds and disputes practices. The program is flexible, so you can explore different areas or focus on one. You will take part in training sessions and small-group discussions on topics like negotiation, litigation strategy and legal writing, often tied to issues our clients are dealing with in real time. You will also have opportunities to engage in pro bono work. We keep the program intentionally small, which means meaningful access to partners and direct feedback on your work. Social events throughout the summer bring the class together and introduce you to the firm in a more informal setting.