Reed Smith LLP

• “We received assignments either through an assignment portal (i.e., an associate or partner would request assistance, and someone volunteered to help) or by directly interacting with associates. I liked this mix of being assigned work and asking for work directly. We were free to take on an assignment in any practice group, regardless of whether it was transactional or litigation.”
• “I had a great experience with the work during the summer. I was staffed on a wide range of assignments, which allowed me to see different practice areas and work with several different partners and associates. The training sessions were genuinely helpful, and attorneys consistently took the time to explain the context behind projects and provide feedback. I felt trusted with meaningful work but also supported at every step.”
• “I really liked the summer training programs because we learned basic lawyering skills like billing, researching, and writing. In fact, each summer received a writing coach, which I found very helpful. I also appreciated that we got to choose assignments from an assignment portal and seek out our own assignments through the relations we developed with attorneys at the firm.”
• “I received substantive assignments that helped me better integrate as a new associate. I have been tasked with similar assignments that I worked on last summer, and it feels less intimidating because I have done it before.”

• “I felt as though our firm’s social events were catered toward allowing us to interact with other people and get us out of the office to enjoy new experiences. There were a variety of events, all of which were well-attended and well-planned.”
• “Attorneys made a real effort to get to know the summers, and the events created a relaxed environment to build relationships across practice groups. I appreciated how inclusive everything felt. My favorite events were the evening group outings (e.g., cooking class with associates and partners) and the end-of-summer dinner at a partner’s home.”
• “We had the opportunity to go to a wide variety of social events, including a WNBA game, a cooking class, Top Golf, bowling, and dinner events. There was clear camaraderie among the summer associates. Also, I received great mentoring from both my associate and partner mentors.”
• “I made some great lifelong friends from my summer associate class. We had a good balance of social events. We did not have too many; sometimes, other firms will have too many social events, and it can be exhausting for summer associates. That was not the case at Reed Smith! I also enjoyed interacting with attorneys. The attorneys at Reed Smith are down-to-earth but hardworking.”

• “The learning curve from summer associate to new associate is really steep, but I know that there is ample and adequate training to prepare me, and the people at my firm have been incredible about asking about my experience transitioning to the new first-year associate role. They have supported my integration efforts with adequate resources and challenging but manageable assignments.”
• “Major difference is that we do not have a system for distributing work. We have to source all our own work as associates. I don’t mind it, but I think it could be tricky for associates in slower practice groups to hit their hours.”
• “I feel like my experiences as a summer associate and associate are comparable. However, as an associate, I feel like I am receiving more feedback and thus given the ability to learn from seasoned attorneys. I feel like the attorneys in my practice group are genuinely making an effort to teach me how to be an excellent attorney.”
• “During the summer, I could reach out to any attorney that I was interested in working with. I was pleasantly surprised when I returned as a new associate that I have this same flexibility to become involved in work that interests me. Although the firm expects you to choose between transactional or litigation, you have a lot of freedom within those larger groups.”

At Reed Smith, our summer associate program is designed to give you a realistic snapshot of associate life. We seek talented law students who bring intellectual rigor, curiosity, character, and a good sense of humor to their work. You'll take on real work for real clients and explore projects across practice areas aligned with your interests. You'll be supported by partner and associate mentors, writing coaches focused on strengthening your analytical and persuasive skills, and our in-house Learning & Development team. You’ll also participate in our Summer Academy, which covers topics ranging from legal writing to effective use of AI to presentation skills. Throughout the summer, you'll experience our collaborative, collegial culture—through social events, informal conversations, and connections with lawyers who've built their careers here. You'll get to know future colleagues and begin shaping your own career path.