Jenner & Block

• “The summer program was good! I handled a few substantive assignments and got to interact with partners, and the workload was manageable and calibrated to summer associates.”
• “Work assignments were very much substantive and tailored to individual interests. There were plenty of formal trainings throughout the summer as well as informal coaching to ensure that we were properly equipped to complete our assignments.”
• “The summer program was a good way to get our feet wet on the types of assignments we are expected to do as summer associates. I enjoyed how we worked with a smaller group of assigning partners over the summer so that we knew who to report to and were able to learn without getting overwhelmed too early.”
• “I got the chance to take on very substantive work for senior partners at the firm that was nonetheless an appropriate difficulty level for a summer associate. Junior associates made sure I was doing the work correctly in a very constructive way and also ensured I was having a good experience.”

• “The summer program social events were excellent ways to get to know colleagues that we would be working with when we came back. The transition to associateship was much easier than I anticipated because I had built relationships with my colleagues, which allowed me to feel comfortable asking questions and seeking advice.”
• “Jenner & Block's summer class is relatively small, so everyone became very close and developed great friendships. The social events were wonderful and allowed everyone to develop relationships not just between summer associates, but also with junior, mid-level, and senior associates, as well as partners.”
• “There was great camaraderie among the summer associates. There was at least one social event per week, usually more, and these were well-attended by attorneys. Attorneys are excited to meet the summer associates and go to lunch or have coffee with them.”
• “One thing I appreciated about the summer associate social programming was that it was encouraged but not forced. There were a lot of really fun events to choose from, but you only had to go to as many as you wanted (and I went to most!). They were a great chance to bond with my fellow summers and also meet associates and (oftentimes very senior) partners at the firm.”

• “I had a pretty clear picture going in! Everyone was really honest about the firm experience going in. Obviously, summer is different from a real job where you're a real lawyer, but I wasn't blindsided by anything.”
• “Transitioning to working instead of summering was pleasantly good. The people I work with are as nice as they were over the summer, and I get much more interesting assignments now. Plus, the hours aren't as bad as I feared!”
• “Jenner prepares us well over the summer, and there were few real surprises when I began practicing. Summer associates are given very real work experience and, in some cases, pick their matters back up when joining the firm. There is a lot of flexibility to join your preferred practice area, and Jenner does not hide the ball about expectations over the summer. It is a collegial place to work as both a summer and full-time associate, and work-life balance is reasonable.”
• “One thing that's been different about practicing than being a summer associate is the flexibility of the assignment system for unassigned associates. I have much more freedom to receive work from partners and associates that I enjoy working with rather than the centralized assignment system that was the origin of most work as a summer.”

• “The social events were a blast! Highlights include box seats at a Cubs game, a WhirlyBall outing, and a magic show.”
• “Yacht ride on Lake Michigan and on the Chicago River.”
• “Jenner rented out the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago for a private event. It was absolutely fantastic and a wonderful bonding experience.”
• “Trip to Universal Studios, Magic Castle, Dodgers game.”

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 learn the “Jenner way,” and see first-hand 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—from cybersecurity and blockchain to voting rights, antitrust, and government investigations (to name a few). 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 everyone at Jenner, will be substantive, interesting, and engaging.