Summer Program Stats
No. of Summer Associates (2024): 9 total (8 2Ls; 1 1L)
No. of 2L Offers (2023): 4 out of 5
Summer Associate Salary:
$3,000-$3,615/week
Summer Program Length:
10 weeks
Summer Program Contact
Maureen Cooper
Recruiting Director
(916) 520-5483
mcooper@downeybrand.com
1L Summers: Case by Case. Only through a local diversity fellowship program
Assigned to Specific Practice Area: Case by Case. Only in San Francisco – Natural Resources
Split Summer with Another Firm: No
Split Summer with Another Office: No
When Does Firm Begin Accepting Resumes for Summer Program: Generally in May
Offices with a Summer Program
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Stockton, CA
Schools Firm Visits for OCI
- UC Davis School of Law
- University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Career Fairs Attended
- Bay Area Diversity Job Fair
Our Survey Says
- “As a summer associate, I received a variety of assignments from all practice groups. I also got to work with associates, as well as directly with partners. The mentoring was excellent. Summer associates are assigned an associate and a partner mentor. The social aspects of the program were also great, and I remain close friends with my summer classmates.”
- “Summer program was really well put together. Very similar to my workload as a first year.”
- “I found it prepared me well to be an associate, and what it would be like to be an associate at Downey Brand. There were social events that allowed me to better get to know my coworkers, but not so many that I missed out on substantive work and getting to know what the real day-to-day would be like.”
- “There was a farewell dinner in which our partners got to meet our coworkers, although I wish no skit was required of the summer associates.”
The Firm Says
Our summer program is an exceptional opportunity to elevate your legal skills by performing challenging work for our clients alongside experienced attorneys who are passionate about their practices. You will have the ability to explore the practice areas that interest you while working on a range of assignments similar to those performed by first-year associates. Our summer program includes formal and informal training, with opportunities to attend client meetings, hearings, depositions, negotiations, closings, site visits, and expert consultations. Additionally, we have a robust mentorship program that pairs you with two dedicated mentors who will assist with your workload, answer questions about specific assignments, and introduce you to other attorneys at the firm. We take pride in our firm culture and host lunches and social events throughout the summer so you can get to know our attorneys and bond with your fellow summer associates.
Note: The firm’s San Francisco office is currently staffed only with Natural Resources attorneys. A demonstrated interest in Natural Resources law is required for San Francisco summer associates.