WilmerHale

• “There are frequent trainings spread throughout the summer on everything from legal research and good legal writing to firm technology and culture to steps for being a successful associate upon return. Two work assignments are initially given upon arrival based on pre-expressed interest. From there, the firm uses a centralized database to upload all summer associate work projects, and summers can choose any assignment that catches their interest.”
• “The summer associate program begins with a week of training, which serves as a nice introduction to the firm. Work is assigned through a central office. In my experience, the workload was fully manageable with a regular work week, with ready flexibility to get coffee or lunch with attorneys at the office.”
• “Summer assignments were real client work such as taking the first pass at drafting documents. There were also numerous trainings on the basics of being both an associate generally and a corporate associate specifically.”
• “WilmerHale attorneys gave me substantive assignments, including opportunities to draft sections of filed pleadings. While none of the work was mission-critical, it was nice to work only on active matters and applying facts of real cases. Trainings prepared me well to do basic tasks, and attorneys were helpful in supplementing that training with informal mentorship and advice on how to approach assignments. Attorneys, including partners, also made an effort to explain legal strategy and the business of firm work, which helped guide my understanding of assignments.”

• “The firm balances summer events in a way I prefer—there’s about one after-work event a week, but otherwise, all programming is during the day. Summer events are fun but not rowdy. Cooking class is a favorite. The summer associates when I was in were very close; many have lasting friendships that continue through a few years after the summer.”
• “I feel that WilmerHale strikes a strong balance in terms of the quantity of social activities. There is one full-class activity per week. Additionally, you participate in two to three small-group/partner-led activities throughout the summer. The activities are highly attended by attorneys (including counsel and partners), providing a high degree of interaction and networking. However, the frequency of events is enough to ensure that the summer associateship is not overwhelming nor all-encompassing.”
• “The firm organized multiple events for the summer associates, including a Mets game, mini golf, and karaoke; there were also opportunities for smaller groups of summer associates to go to events with a partner, ranging from golf to Broadway shows. The events were well-attended, but there was no expectation of attendance.”
• “The social component of my firm's summer associate program made me feel very welcome at the firm. Everyone was so generous with their time, and I really enjoyed getting to know people on a personal level. It has made the transition into full-time work/practice much smoother, already being familiar with almost everyone in the office.”

• “I get more substantive work, which I enjoy, but everyone is still really nice, and that part has not changed at all between being a summer and a full-time associate. It didn't feel like anyone was hiding the ball from me when I was a summer about the actual work.”
• “I think that this is true at every firm, but the process for finding work apart from what's assigned by the centralized system requires some networking/proactive reaching out. I am sure there are some soft walls around certain areas and some nudging of attorneys that the firm does towards certain areas. It’s up to attorneys to navigate that, which can be tricky but not unreasonable.”
• “It hasn’t really. I was given a realistic sense of attorney workflow and assignment quality. I’ve been a little surprised by how much more responsibility I have on some teams than I thought I would.”
• “None at all. Attorneys were very candid when I was a summer, and being an associate feels like a natural continuation of that experience.”

In choosing a law firm, you are making an investment in your career. Wherever you envision your future—at WilmerHale or in government, academia, business, or the judiciary—we provide room to grow and the resources to develop. At WilmerHale, you’ll find opportunity and experience at every turn. Work on what you read about and what you care about. You’ll work on headline-reaching cases because clients come to us with their most complex problems. Our matters draw on the signature strengths of our world-class legal departments to address our clients’ most complex and high-profile legal challenges.