2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE UNDERWRITER Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

• “The training was great during the summer associate program, and the firm tried to integrate the summer associates into projects without overwhelming the summer associates with work.”
• “We were provided work in the areas in which we expressed interest and were given the opportunity to rank our practice areas up until the last day. We were given pro bono assignments if we chose a cause we were interested in. We had the ability to engage as much as we wanted, but [the firm] also gave us the option to keep our schedules open for events and professional reading. We had plenty of training and were encouraged to attend meetings in certain departments and attend CLE presentations, so we attended summer trainings and could audit others.”
• “A good mix of training and work assignments (pro bono included!). Everyone got to try out areas of interest, even if those included both litigation and corporate.”
• “As a summer associate, I had the opportunity at Willkie to maintain a full, but not overwhelming, workload across the range of transactional practice areas the firm offers. Exposure to the various practices through substantive work assignments, in conjunction with quite thorough yet digestible training programs, allowed me to determine which transactional practice area I was most interested in before ranking my groups for full-time placement at summer's end.”

• “There were several social events throughout the summer. The casino fundraiser event was the biggest. Summer associates were mainly all friendly. Attorneys attended events, and we had small practice group-related events as well. Social events were at night, and we had lunches during the day. I like how Willkie did not do dinners with attorneys because it shows that individuals at the firm go home to spend time with family, and work is not their entire life.”
• “There were formal events every week to interact with partners and associates (my favorite was Magic Castle), but the attorneys would also take us to lunch most days. I had lunch with attorneys across all practice groups and feel like I really got a good chance to get to know everyone. I also really got to know my fellow summer associates because all of the summers started off the program together in NY!”
• “We had about one big social event every week—sometimes two. We also had at least three expensed lunches a week plus lots of coffee chats and special mentor events. Notable summer events included the Cubs vs. White Sox game at Wrigley (in the firm's box), a Broadway play, a concert, a laser tag/game night, Second City, etc.”
• “Sitting in a bull pen really fostered camaraderie among summers. We are still close to this day. The social events were fun and made me feel like I was part of the firm.”

• “So far, my work was demonstrative of the type of work I have been receiving as a law clerk. I feel as though the exposure to associates and partners in my department matches the amount of interaction I have now. The main difference is that I have more independence and ownership over my work.”
• “I am truly given more responsibility on cases than I anticipated, which is great and helps me in building my career.”
• “I've been pleasantly surprised at how much emphasis the firm has on work-life balance, expectations, and workload. It's a supportive environment so far.”
• “The firm was much friendlier and open than I was expecting based solely on the caricature of BigLaw. Every person, from partners to associates, were not just available to assist us but excited to.”

Willkie’s summer program offers leading law students a firsthand introduction to life as a junior associate. Our summer law clerks work side by side with our attorneys in practice areas of their choice and on a wide range of pro bono matters. In addition to working on client matters, Willkie offers professional development and networking opportunities, as well as an array of social activities.

Summer law clerks participate in a corporate negotiation, a writing workshop, and a mock arbitration training seminar. These programs equip summer law clerks with the skills necessary to produce high quality work. While summers will receive regular feedback on their work, we have two formal evaluations during the program where summers gain insight into their strengths and valuable information on how they can elevate their work to the next level.

Our social events are created with the goal of helping our summer law clerks get to know one another, our attorneys, and their city. Through our summer program, summer law clerks gain a clear sense of life at Willkie, develop their talents, and position themselves to succeed in their careers.