2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE UNDERWRITER WilmerHale

• “The firm's summer program included extensive training opportunities on topic important to new lawyers, including public speaking, negotiations, etc. As a summer associate, I had the chance to work on a mix of different assignments, including client work, internal firm development tasks, and ad hoc projects.”
• “I felt like I had a consistent flow of assignments. When I asked if I could attend a board meeting, my request was immediately received, and I had one on my calendar the next day. I was given the opportunity to attend and present at a meeting consisting mostly of partners, and they were extremely kind (messaging me with positive feedback). I also wrote and published an article on our website.”
• “I appreciated the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, including across practice groups for pro bono assignments, to get a sense for different types of work substantively as well as different team and partner work styles. I received critical but kind feedback on each assignment in real time or shortly after the conclusion of the assignment, which helped me connect the dots and improve the next time around.”
• “Interesting opportunities to work across a variety of practice areas were provided, including corporate, litigation, IP, and others. The coordinators and firm at large were very accommodating to summer associates in getting the experience they were looking for and making connections with the right people.”

• “I think the social aspects were very nice at Wilmer. I think as a class we got very close, and I enjoyed coming in to work every day to spend time with them. We were able to go out to lunch every day, which gave us a great opportunity to meet attorneys and our fellow classmates alike.”
• “The summer program had a series of engaging events, at least one weekly, that fostered camaraderie among summer associates and gave us the opportunity to meet with attorneys. We also had events at the office. My favorite events were a boat cruise and casino night.”
• “Summer associates are welcomed by all, ranging from first-year associates to partners. All will make availability to go to breakfast or lunch, and some partners will take it upon themselves to schedule dinners with the summer associates. There is even a tradition for partners to invite the summer associates to their homes for a catered dinner.”
• “WilmerHale has social events one or two nights a week throughout the summer, some for only associates, others including junior associates, and some with the entire firm. People are open, welcoming, and unintimidating. The firm likely parties less than New York firms, but I preferred that there was not an expectation that people would drink a lot or go out for drinks every single night.”

• “The firm adopts a centralized staffing system, and sometimes the work can be slow for some but busy for others for full-time associates. It is not case during summer as the staffing decision is made at the office level rather than the firm level.”
• “On the plus side, I'm surprised by how much pro bono work I've been given. Some of it involves very intensive litigation, which I appreciate because I'm getting to work closely with partners and learn my craft in cases I care about. Plus, there is no pro bono cap, so I go home happy most days (even on the long ones). On the negative side, our start date was much later in the year than other firms, and the transition stipend (though generous) was stretched pretty thin by the end of the break. I would have preferred starting work earlier and earning my keep than the enforced vacation.”
• “It hasn't, really. People are very warm and willing to help. I have had less partner contact than I did as a summer, but I think that is largely because the matters I am working on now have a much larger team than did the matters I worked on as a summer associate. One thing that I was shocked by is the discrepancies in work hours that can result as a practicing member of the firm; that is, I was shocked that one month you could have many hours and another you can have a substantial drop in those hours.”
• “I've actually enjoyed my initial months as a first-year associate more than I enjoyed my time as a summer associate. Obviously, I have worked far less with partners as a first year than I did as a summer, but I've had the chance to form closer working relationships with counsel, which I have really enjoyed. I have also been able to get involved in practice groups I am most interested in (which was less possible as a summer). ...”

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.