Dentons

• “The firm had a specific training program for associates that I felt was very helpful in preparing us for the work we'd be doing as associates. The work assignments were ad hoc but appropriate for summers and were substantive assignments. There was not much feedback on individual assignments, but we received general feedback at the midway point and the end of the summer.”
• “In addition to orientation and a training program throughout the summer, my work assignments were like that of a first-year associate (not only legal research but also drafting, etc.).”
• “The work given was explained well and opportunity was given for us to work on substantive assignments. The associates made a strong effort to ensure that we had the resources and background necessary to complete the tasks assigned and were always open to answering questions and providing guidance.”
• “Most of the assignments given to summer associates focused on providing research support to associates. On occasion, direct assignments came from partners. There was a mix of billable support and business development tasks.”

• “The social aspect of the summer associate program was good. We had official events at least once a week. In addition to that, we usually ate lunch together as a team and would sometimes get together after work as well. Everyone was very welcoming and made an effort to see everyone included.”
• “Our social events included happy hours/dinners, a St. Louis Cardinals game, Topgolf, and a tour of St. Louis CITY SC's new stadium. Ours is a smaller office, which only has two summer associates each year, but the program gave us the opportunity to bond. The events were well-attended by associates and partners, and I had a great relationship with a number of the attorneys before I started back full-time.”
• “The Denver office provided a great variety of summer associate events, including go-cart racing, crafting, axe throwing, concerts, and lunches with associates and partners. These were great opportunities to personally get to know associates and partners. Staff made an effort to be present during connection days in the summer as well.”
• “There were significant summer associate events almost every week that helped us feel very welcomed and acclimated with the firm.”

• “I've received my share of low-level work, but that's to be expected because I am the lowest-level attorney. However, I've received substantive work and was trusted with larger and more important matters early on. The most pleasant surprise is the work-life balance. The firm and the partners in my office genuinely care about my workload and preventing burnout. I've been encouraged to take time off. They have personal lives, and they want me to have one too.”
• “My experience practicing at the firm was pretty true to form with what I expected from my summer associate position. There is obviously a much larger workload as a practicing attorney rather than a summer associate, but that is to be expected. The attorneys were very upfront and honest about the workload and workflow when I was a summer associate, so there weren't too many surprises when I started practicing. The only thing that I didn't expect was that it took a while when I first started back at the firm to start getting consistent hours and work.”
• “I prefer the work that I received as a first-year in comparison to the work I received as a summer associate. Again, I think that firms are limited in their ability to give substantive work to summer associates given the timeframe. ... I also think the amount of cross-team work I received as a summer was greater than one would experience as a full-time associate, although that's not unique to my firm and serves a valuable role in helping expose summers to a variety of different practice areas and get acquainted with their future colleagues. …”
• “I am busier as an associate and have a lot more responsibilities, but I got an accurate impression of the firm from my summer.”

Law students who join our Summer Associate Program experience the energy, creativity, and collegiality that defines life at Dentons. We fully immerse our summer associates in the firm to provide a realistic picture of what being a Dentons lawyer is like, and we’ve designed our program to give students the tools needed to succeed. Our smaller class size allows a more personalized experience; Dentons summer associates are paired with a junior and a senior mentor who provide guidance and advice throughout the summer, and our summer associates work side-by-side with attorneys to get involved with actual client matters and meaningful pro bono work. We offer practical training in areas such as legal writing, ethics, and oral communications and offer a variety of networking opportunities and fun social events. Our program balances real work, training, and networking to show what a career at Dentons could look like.