McGuireWoods

• “I was very pleased by my integration into substantive casework as a summer associate. I always felt supported by supervising attorneys to check my work and answer my questions, but I was also trusted with significant research questions and memos, motion drafts, and pro bono cases. These real opportunities allowed me to sharpen real lawyering skills.”
• “There were a couple firm-wide summer associate assignments—one litigation appellate work and the other transactional advice. I got most of my work through asking attorneys, but there is also a portal where attorneys across offices can post assignments for summer associates to work on.”
• “I had the opportunity to work on substantive matters from day one with the support of my two associate mentors and supervising partner.”
• “Very easy to sign up for meaningful assignments in your particular interest areas; very easy to solicit guidance from anyone in your office, especially associates.”

• “The social aspect of the summer program was well-balanced with the work and not too overbearing. We enjoyed an average of one social event each week, and many of them were with small groups of different attorneys, allowing us to spend quality time with several different people from the office. We also had scheduled lunches with different attorneys in our groups each week. … I especially appreciated getting to meet firm leadership and learn how the firm operates. My favorite summer event was a dinner hosted at one of the partner's homes with several attorneys and their partners in attendance.”
• “The firm's social aspects were engaging and great fun in regards to networking and relationship building. My favorite was the Top Golf event and meeting at the Managing Partner's home.”
• “I appreciated the pace of our summer program. We averaged one to two social events per week, which provided us the opportunity to enjoy structured time with our fellow summers and firm attorneys while providing space for organic events and rest. My favorite event was our summer associate retreat in DC, where we got to meet our fellow summers in other offices and enjoy all that DC has to offer.”
• “There was usually a social networking event each week throughout the summer, with a variety of activities and settings. For example, we watched a Cubs game through the Wrigley rooftops.”

• “The substance of the work I am doing as an associate vs. when I was a summer associate is actually not very different. I am currently doing a lot of research and drafting arguments, which I also did in the summer program. The biggest difference is that now, as an associate, my work consistently comes from attorneys in the same group, whereas when I was a summer associate, I worked on matters across practice groups, including corporate.”
• “[The associate and summer experiences] have been comparable, with the difference being in expectations on me. As a summer associate, I worked on projects that, once completed, essentially ended my involvement in a deal. Now I am staffed onto a deal and am responsible for multiple assignments and tasks, which means I am expected to work outside of the typical workday to get it done.”
• “The only difference between my current experience at the firm and my summer experience is that I am working more now, which is to be expected. ...”
• “I think everyone is personally the same as when I was a summer, as in I wasn't suddenly treated way worse after becoming an associate. Obviously, expectations are different now, but my read of the culture is the same now as it was when I was a summer.”

As a summer associate, you will participate in events that give you a chance to meet lawyers and other summer associates. You will be assigned at least one mentor to introduce you to the firm, the lawyers in the office, and the city where you’ll be working. Rather than rotating formally through firm departments, you’ll be encouraged to work on projects in all areas of practice. Assigning lawyers will evaluate your work, and you will receive regular feedback. The program balances work, training, and social activities to provide a realistic snapshot of associate life at McGuireWoods. At the end of the summer program, we make offers based on the quality of your work and on the hiring needs of the office. Offers are made for a specific office, and the firm makes every effort to accommodate your practice area interests.