McDermott Will & Schulte

• “The firm provided many opportunities for training through firm-hosted trainings, online courses, and assigning work on billable matters and through mentorship. As a summer associate, I worked on ancillary documents for M&A matters, conducted research on securities law issues, and analyzed client matters in relation to the research, worked on pro bono matters, and assisted with professional development tasks such as writing client alerts.”
• “The firm allowed me to assist with deposition and mediation preparation, which was very interesting and allowed me to learn about substantive and procedural aspects of the law. Work assignments were steady and came from a variety of partners and associates.”
• “I received very substantive assignments during my summer, including sitting in on calls with witnesses/the government and writing an entire sentencing memorandum for a client. I learned a lot and got great feedback.”
• “MWE had in place an efficient and effective workflow process. An assigned work assignment coordinator (a mid-level associate in the practice group) worked with partners and other associates—both within litigation and with other groups—to provide a steady stream of work assignments. This coordinator also ensures the summers are not overwhelmed with assignments. As for substantive work experiences, I had opportunities to shadow depositions, conduct research in support of dispositive motions, and help on pro bono projects.”

• “The firm frequently provided summer associates with opportunities to connect with partners and associates, both in the local office and across the nation. Associates would attend lunch with summers on a near-daily basis and would have weekly social outings, and the firm hosted a national summer associate retreat as well as offered an opportunity for summer associates to visit the neighboring offices.”
• “The social events during the summer program were fantastic. Many firm attorneys attended the majority of events, and the activities allowed for interaction between all the summer associates and the attorneys in our office. McDermott had a wonderful summer associate retreat in Chicago, but my personal favorite event was sailing in the San Francisco Bay.”
• “Outstanding social calendar that included sporting events, concerts, happy hours, performances. All attended by a mix of summers, associates, and partners. My favorites were the NY Mets game, wherein we had a suite and met with the Mets' legal team, and a concert at MetLife Stadium where The Weeknd performed.”
• “The firm hosts great events, including happy hours with attorneys, taking summers to the Stanley Cup finals, and the marquee event—the summer associate retreat in Chicago. These events make it easy to build relationships with both attorneys and fellow summer associates.”

• “I've actually been pleasantly surprised with the amount of opportunity I've been given as a junior associate at my firm. Since I was a first year, I have been handling settlement conferences, managing clients and leading client meetings, handling meet-and-confer sessions with opposing counsel, and drafting briefs and motions. I am now in charge of mentoring younger associates as only a third year.”
• “There is nothing that was promised to me as a summer associate that I haven't found to be true as an associate. The only expectation I had as a summer associate that differed from actual practice was that I've been given more responsibility as a junior than I thought I would. And that is something I'm very happy about.”
• “I think the adjustment to BigLaw is a challenge most associates face. You go from being wined and dined to grinding it out. Overall, I've felt supported in my firm by both my practice group, which is disbursed across the U.S. and Europe and the other attorneys in my office. I've never felt the bait-and-switch regret expressed by some of my peers at other firms of moving from a summer associate to full-time associate.”
• “The firm is much more global than my summer experience suggested. Now that I am here, I work with many partners in other offices around the country and the world, whereas I primarily worked with New York partners when I was a summer.”

McDermott’s summer associate program offers a realistic, immersive introduction to life as an associate at the firm. Summer associates are entrusted with meaningful, substantive work and receive regular feedback that mirrors the experience of a junior associate. This hands-on exposure provides valuable insight into the firm’s expectations, culture, and day-to-day practice.

Because of our conservative hiring approach, summer associates are able to engage deeply with a broad range of assignments and client matters. In addition to ongoing feedback, they receive structured evaluations at the midpoint and end of the program to support their professional growth. Each summer associate is paired with an associate and a partner mentor, who serve as key resources throughout the summer—offering guidance, helping navigate firm life, and supporting the transition from law student to practicing attorney.

Our program is also enriched by a series of thoughtfully planned events and social activities designed to foster connection, build lasting relationships, and promote integration into the firm’s community. To support personal development and balance, we offer a summer-long well-being program focused on multiple aspects of wellness—including mental, physical, social, and financial health.