Foley Hoag LLP

• “Very flexible to receive work assignments across practice groups and industries. Summer associates receive work through assigned mentors and through a job board to volunteer for assignments.”
• “The firm allows summer associates to choose from assignments from various departments across the firm. The work is substantive and gives an insight into the actual work performed by full-time junior associates.”
• “Work given as a summer associate was very equivalent to work given to a first-year associate. I felt as though my work was making an impact at the firm and that it was challenging me to become a better writer. None of the work I was given felt like throw-away work.”
• “I received substantive assignments that meaningfully assisted the case teams I was working with. I did a business internship within the summer program that allowed me to shadow a deal team to help me figure out if corporate law was something I was interested in, and I shadowed arguments in court. I felt like my summer work experience was well-rounded and helped me make important decisions for my career down the line.”

• “There are MANY social activities during the summer program (at least one to two per week). It is a mix of fun (mini golf and dumpling-making) and professional (career panels and trainings) activities. Many of the associates and partners are invested in attending these activities, so there are many opportunities to meet attorneys across the firm. Summer associates are also highly encouraged to schedule coffee meetings with attorneys to learn about their practice.”
• “The social aspect of my firm's summer associate program was great. There were various events that helped bring the summer associates out of their shells, including a dumpling-making class. The events were not centered around drinking but rather getting to know one another, which I loved.”
• “I thoroughly enjoyed the social aspects of Foley Hoag's summer associate program. Attorneys of all levels of seniority—from junior associates to the managing partner of the office—spent extensive time getting to know me on a personal and professional level. The experience highlighted the firm's culture.”
• “Very social program with around three events per week. Favorite events were a boat cruise, Red Sox game, and practice group summer events.”

• “The summer associate program at Foley Hoag prepared me for life as a first-year associate without being overwhelming. During the summer, I received assignments comparable to the ones I am working on during my first few weeks as a first-year associate. The only difference was the amount of help I received from junior associates. The additional support helped me learn tips and tricks that have been directly applicable to my time as a first-year associate. It also made the work less overwhelming over the summer and now as a first-year associate.”
• “The biggest difference was the amount of responsibility you are given. The teams are lean, which means that you are given more opportunity to produce substantial work. As a junior associate, you are guided by mentors and supervisors, but there is a higher expectation to take ownership of your assignments. As a summer, you are allowed to choose assignments through a summer associate portal. As a junior associate, the staffing partner(s) will assign you to matters as necessary. You are welcome to seek out opportunities that you are interested in, but typically the chairs or staffing partners will decide how to apportion the practice group's work.”
• “The hours are longer and the expectations are greater now. Also, less direction given with each assignment, but I've still had a fair amount of choice regarding the cases I've been added to.”
• “The work structure is different than I expected. Although there is a central staffing partner [for my department], a lot of the work is still built upon partners reaching out to you outside of the staffing partner. Your summer connections are meaningful for that reason.”

Our summer program is designed to allow associates to work on matters of immediate importance to the firm’s clients. We have no rigid work assignment or rotation system. Summer associates can choose their own assignments from a wide range of departments and practice groups. Summer associates receive valuable training from working closely on a day-to-day basis with their supervising lawyers and from prompt feedback on all assignments. We have designed formal training and orientation programs to supplement this hands-on training, and lawyers take primary responsibility for each summer associate—serving as mentors and “buddies”—to offer guidance and counsel. Our summer associates have opportunities to observe experienced lawyers in action, attending depositions, trials, and other court appearances, as well as conferences with clients and opposing counsel. There is also ample opportunity to become acquainted with our lawyers on a more personal level at lunches and informal social events.