2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE PREMIUM SPONSOR Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

• “The training for summer associates takes place the first week of the program. The firm flies out all summer associates nationwide to a kick-off event where they provide training, expectations, and a venue for meeting and interacting with summer associates, associates, and partners. After the kickoff, the summer associates are flown back to their office to end the week with some office-specific programming. After that initial training week, summer associates can pick up assignments through an online portal or by word of mouth. First-year summer associates are given the opportunity to pick up assignments from any practice group, while 2L summer associates typically pick up assignments within their designated practice group. The assignments are varied and substantive. I have seen my work product sent to clients, used in meet-and-confer letters, used in filed briefs, and even make its way into a court's order.”
• “MLB had an assignment portal that allowed me to pick assignments posted by attorneys in every practice group with a description of the assignment, estimated time of completion, and involved attorneys. I never stressed about finding substantive work to do, and the portal basically allowed me to shop for assignments and try out different things I was interested in.”
• “In the New York office, the firm pairs you with an assignment coordinator who works closely with you each week to assess your evolving interest across the practice groups and secure work in those areas of interest. There is a huge emphasis on finding the right fit for you—the type of work, the people, and the dynamic of the practice group.”
• “The work was all real client work. We worked on research assignments that would be used in pleadings or to draft the pleadings. I also worked on a substantive pro bono assignment that included drafting a brief for a military discharge.”

• “The firm did a fantastic job organizing social events and opportunities for summer associates to connect. Thanks to the summer kickoff where all associates from all offices spent a week together in Santa Monica, I'm not only close with my class here in LA but also with several other first years across different offices. Beyond weekly formal events, we received stipends and dedicated time for casual lunches or coffee meet-ups, which really helped us bond as a class. As an automobile fan, my favorite was the Porsche Experience Center. We got to ride around on a racecar track with professional drivers, and I had never seen some partners so excited before!”
• “Morgan Lewis provided a shared workspace for the few summer associates it hired. ... This helped build camaraderie with the other summers and made the workspace more inviting and friendly. Some associates and a few partners were great at introducing themselves and building professional rapports throughout the summer, while some only interacted with the summers at formal events. Marquee events included a Pirates baseball game from the owner's box, an afternoon boat outing, and attending a pop concert.”
• “We had regular social events, which were all enjoyable. The associates and partners who attended the events were engaged with the summer associates, and we had meaningful interactions with them. The camaraderie among summer associates was fantastic; we all got along quite well. My favorite summer events included a tour of Gillette Stadium, mini golfing at Puttshack, sailing around the Boston Harbor, and a beach party in Santa Monica as part of the kick-off to the summer program.”
• “[In the New York office,] each practice group arranges an event, such as baseball games, bowling tournaments, and concerts. This offers the chance to engage in cool outings while also getting to know each group on a personal level.”

• “The only difference was how readily available assignments were. As a summer, there was a database, and the assignment coordinator was very good about providing us assignments. As a first-year associate, it has taken some time to get onto case teams. There is more initiative taken as an associate to get work initially compared to a summer.”
• “I think all the work I received was fairly similar, except I was often given more time to complete assignments as a summer than would be typical for an associate. Additionally, I quickly began developing my practice and do more advising and counseling and am otherwise communicating directly with clients more than I expected at this stage. The only thing I feel I am missing from the associate experience that I received as a summer: the daily two-hour-long paid-for lunches at fine dining establishments.”
• “The expectations are the same. I have flexibility to seek out assignments in areas that I would like to explore. What has been a pleasant surprise is that I have been tasked with significant responsibilities even as a junior associate. In my first few months at the firm, I was defending depositions and taking the lead on drafting motions. I even had the opportunity to argue in court for a pro bono assignment. I did not expect to receive this level of work until my third or fourth year and am thrilled to have such opportunities early on in my career.”
• “As someone who learned the subsection of litigation I wanted to practice in after my second summer, the free market of this firm has been a huge plus. I have been able to develop informal mentorship relationships and work with the people and in the areas I want to work.”

We offer an innovative summer experience for law students that combines challenging client work, targeted professional development, and meaningful connection opportunities. Our summer program begins with our “Summer Kickoff,” an interactive multi-day orientation with firm leaders and summer associates from across the United States. The location changes every year, but wherever we gather, the goal remains the same—to introduce students to our firm, our robust summer program, and our collaborative culture. Following the Kickoff, we continue our professional development training through the Summer Academy, which includes important topics such as exceptional client service, legal writing, and presentation skills. We also provide interesting and challenging work assignments throughout the program and build in many engaging social activities so our summer associates have the opportunity to interact with our lawyers and one another.