Faegre Drinker

• “Drafted briefs, participated in client calls, and prepared memos for internal/external use. Completed structured training throughout the summer.”
• “I received substantive work and hands-on training from attorneys both in my office and in our other offices across the country.”
• “We were able to take a variety of projects across multiple practice groups. The assignments were a good introduction to various practice groups.”
• “We had a week-long orientation and then a week-long summer associates summit. …”

• “The firm hosted practice group and firmwide social events. The firm also had a summer associate retreat nationwide.”
• “The firm strikes the right balance between social events and down time so that I never felt a lack of socializing but wasn't overwhelmed either. The entire summer associate class was close-knit, and we could rely on each other. Attorneys clearly care about getting to know the summer associates and ensuring they feel welcome.”
• “We had summer associate events once or twice a week, which allowed us to connect with fellow summers and attorneys at the firm without overwhelming us with events and commitments. We did a wide range of social events, for museums to mini golf and happy hours.”
• “Because we were so busy the first half of the summer, the second half was more social, particularly towards the end. My favorite event was a dinner/rooftop drinks with associates and partners. It was a great opportunity to fraternize with lawyers at the firm without feeling rushed.”

• “One aspect I was surprised by is how little I interact with other practice groups. As a summer, you get to work in any area of law you wished and meet more people. As a practicing attorney, your time is focused on networking with those in your practice group.”
• “I was pleasantly surprised that I was actually able to get assignments outside of our assignment database by just meeting attorneys for coffee. In my prior experiences as a summer associate, this never happened.”
• “There is more focus on certain practice groups than others. I thought I would have more control over the type of work I do. I was pleasantly surprised by the firm’s flexibility and collegial atmosphere though.”
• “The main thing is fewer social events, but that is to be expected. In terms of quality of work, I have had many opportunities to draft pleadings, sit in on judicial proceedings, and take on responsibilities that a mid-level would normally have. The attorneys are not afraid to let juniors take on increased responsibility because it accelerates their growth.”

Engaging work and supportive mentors make Faegre Drinker an ideal first—and long-term—place for law students to begin their careers. Beginning with our summer associate program, we provide support and training to help law students and new attorneys build the skills and behaviors to grow a sophisticated legal practice and develop rewarding client relationships. Summer associates receive a hands-on, meaningful experience. We encourage growth with challenging work, intensive professional development programs, personalized mentoring and coaching, and respectful yet candid feedback. We have a full-time legal writing coach and advisor who provides individual writing guidance to summer associates. Summer associates can participate in pro bono work and connect with peers and our lawyers throughout the summer.