Jenner & Block

• “Weekly practice trainings that integrate associates into firm life. Assignment board where associates can choose assignments, as well as assignments assigned informally.”
• “Work assignments were substantive but mixed with training and engagement material.”
• “I had the opportunity to work on a range of assignments as a summer associate, including meaningful pro bono work and substantive research and writing assignments. I got substantive feedback and good interactions with partners and associates.”
• “The assignment system ensured that each summer associate had a chance to work on interesting cases. At the same time, the workload was not so demanding that we lacked the time to connect and socialize with other attorneys.”

• “I loved my firm's summer associate program! There was a good range of fun activities, and I really bonded with my class during the summer program, in addition to having the opportunity to get to know attorneys at the firm better.”
• “I formed close relationships with my summer associate class. In general, the firm does not foster a competitive environment, so there were good foundations there. I was pleased with the amount of face time I had with associates, partners, and professional staff at social events. The summer associates were also invited to cool professional events where we got to socialize with prospective law students, judges, and even clients. I felt very included and was overall happy with the summer events.”
• “The summer program featured multiple social events of varying degrees of formality, allowing the cohort to bond with each other through fun activities and also to organically connect with the firm’s attorneys.”
• “Cubs game, night at the museum (private tour of the Impressionism wing at the Art Institute of Chicago), boating on Lake Michigan.”

• “I have been pleasantly surprised by the camaraderie among associates and the approachability of partners. In law school, I had heard about others’ negative experiences at BigLaw firms, where the environment was competitive or intense. I have not had any such experience at Jenner. Partners and senior associates are patient and kind to those more junior. People work hard, but they don't take their stress out on each other. Everyone seems to be understanding and respectful of personal obligations. The people are really exceptional.”
• “I am way busier than I was as a summer associate and working more after hours.”
• “I had no unpleasant surprises. I was pleased to reconfirm that the level of warmth and passion that had drawn me to Jenner was an essence of the firm, not a pretense for the summer associates.”
• “I didn’t expect to receive the same level of mentorship that I do as an associate. All of the associates and partners are very willing to help, just as much as they were over the summer.”

Our summer associates bond at baseball games, comedy shows, and city-specific events (from architectural boat tours to Broadway shows), but the real value of the summer program comes from the opportunity to see firsthand what makes our firm so special. As an organization filled with smart people who take their work—but not themselves—seriously, we welcome our summer associates with handpicked assignments and the chance to explore our different practices. Summer associates play an integral role across the firm by drafting briefs, preparing for depositions or trials, and doing the legal research and analysis we need to guide our clients. We don’t yet know which legal issues our next summer associates will be tackling, but we can promise that the work, like that for everyone at Jenner, will be substantive, interesting, and engaging.