King & Spalding LLP

• “Summer associates are assigned to [Summer Staffing Partner]who manages their assignments and workload; generally, your work is filtered through that person so that you don't get overwhelmed with work. The firm also has trainings each week, usually one to two lunchtime trainings, that go over things like billing time, legal research, and how to use the firm technology, among other more substantive things that are specific to each practice group.”
• “We received substantive work assignments, including drafting appellate and trial-level briefs, motions, and other pleadings. Supervising attorneys gave us autonomy on these assignments but provided instructions on the front end and thorough feedback on the back end. It was a great preview of the kinds of assignments we would later take on as first-year associates.”
• “Direct client contact as a summer. Partners provided context for assignments and showed the final result of assignments. I received substantial feedback on assignments.”
• “I received a broad range of substantive assignments from attorneys in various offices. I felt this cross-office work was one of the most representative examples of life as an associate in my group.”

• “There are usually one to two social events a week, ranging from dinners and outings at sporting events to bike tours and cooking classes. There are often additional social events that are more impromptu. These events are very well-attended by everyone at the firm. Summer associate class camaraderie is excellent. I am still good friends with everyone who was in my class who came to the firm.”
• “Our summer program was extremely social and comfortable. The group was big enough to include people of different experiences, ages, and backgrounds but small enough where we were able to establish real personal connections with a majority of the group. Senior attorneys frequently attended our events, and during the summer session, we were able to make lasting connections with those attorneys. I currently work on a team with attorneys I met during the summer session.”
• “The social events were fun and engaging without being overwhelming. There was typically one large, planned event each week, which you were expected to attend. Then other smaller, voluntary events would pop up at other times during the week. For lunches, there were summer group lunches and more one-on-one lunches with attorneys—including many partners.”
• “It was very clear that everyone from associates to partners put time and value into reaching out to summer associates and getting to know them, whether for a quick coffee break or for longer lunches and dinners. Social events were created, and they were fun, creative, and inclusive, but my most memorable experiences were the social interactions that came naturally from the kind partners and associates who went out of their way to introduce themselves.”

• “Across the board I've been pleasantly surprised by my experiences. During the summer it was stressed that we'd be working with senior associates and partners closely, and while that may be a common slogan for all summer programs, in my experience, it has been very true. I've been able to establish close personal relationships with many partners.”
• “I wish there were a little more room to pick the practice areas and assignments you get to work on as a first year. As a summer, K&S was really good about getting me substantive assignments in different practice areas when I asked for it, but it's been a bit harder to do that as a first year. I have been impressed with how nice and welcoming most people at the firm have been though.”
• “While being an associate is certainly harder than I expected it to be due to the learning curve from law school to corporate law practice, I wasn't surprised by the hours or expectations at the firm. During my summers, the attorneys that I worked with were very open and honest about their work life, so I knew what to expect when I started at the firm full time.”
• “I was appropriately prepared for life as a junior associate. I was informed it was a ‘free market’ system, which it has been, and I have received meaningful, substantive work—and significant responsibility—early in my career. I am also pleasantly surprised with how much case management responsibility is being entrusted with me.”

• “This past summer, we took the summers to a concert at the Wolf Trap in Virginia. The firm provided passes for us to sit on the lawn, along with food, drinks, and picnic blankets. The event was very well attended—we had all of the summers and about a dozen attorneys. It was a great opportunity for everyone in the group to get to know one another.”
• “We went to the rooftop at Ponce City Market, played Topgolf, went to a party at a partner's house, and attended a number of dinners and cocktail hours at various restaurants throughout Atlanta. My favorite event was dinner at Rathbun's (one of the best steakhouses in Atlanta).”
• “Summer Associate summit in Atlanta.”
• “Virtual trivia during which associates were randomly grouped into teams of three and competed against each other on various topics. It was sort of like jeopardy, but the trivia host was also doing stand-up comedy throughout the event.”

We think critically about each hire we make – a summer associate is not “just a number” and will not feel lost in the crowd. For the past several years, we have extended offers to 100% of our summer associates.

Summer associates are staffed on high-value, high-profile matters from day one, learning from the process of doing, while working with industry-leading lawyers. They prepare for and observe depositions, investigations, and witness prep, join lawyers in court, attend closings and client meetings, and more.

Summer associates receive mentorship as well as consistent feedback and guidance, highlighting our lawyers’ interest in the development and growth of the firm’s future talent.

Summer associates are also encouraged to participate in our Connect K&S program – which allows them to visit another U.S. office. Through this program, summer associates experience the benefit of having talented lawyers spread across a global footprint and experience our collaborative, cross-office approach to serving our clients. We invest in each associate and their career from day one, helping them gain the skills and expertise they need to build their practice. There’s more opportunity here.