Wilson Sonsini

• “Wilson Sonsini's summer associate program entails substantive work assignments across the general corporate practice, including capital markets, venture financings, and M&A. Wilson Sonsini's attorneys are also very approachable, and they are excellent resources for summer associates beginning their legal career. In addition to client work, [in the past] summer associates have [had] the opportunity to participate in the Build-a-Bot summer project in which summer associates are trained on the latest developments in legal technology, and they submit a fully functional automated workflow at the end of the summer.”
• “The firm focuses on both substantive work assignments and allows shadowing opportunities for the summer associates. During my summer, I worked on a number of different agreements and had the opportunity to sit in a major negotiation for a large deal.’
• “I completed work as a summer associate that I later handled as a first-year (and now second-year) associate. The summer associate projects were absolutely substantive junior-level work. I had an associate mentor and a partner mentor who made sure I had work projects, met with me one-on-one multiple times, and answered any work-related questions I had.”
• “I was able to split my summer between two practice groups, which allowed me to work on both patent litigation and prosecution matters, as well as life science transactional matters. This means I was able to attend both the patent law and technology transactions trainings as well as sign up for both types of matters (patent and transactional). The firm utilized an online system where summer associates could sign up for work based on availability and interest.”

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• “The firm flies all summer associates out to the headquarters in Palo Alto for an all-expenses paid summer academy week that [includes]  a few days relaxing and getting to know the other summer associates on the beach and/or poolside. The experience is second to none.”
• “The summer associate program at Wilson Sonsini has a great social aspect. You will have a hard time finding associates and partners who don't want to go to lunch and socialize with summer associates at this firm. Wilson Sonsini also has a fresh mix of social events that are specific to the office. The entire summer class also meets for one week in Palo Alto, which gives all summer associates [the opportunity] to socialize with the other offices.”
• “The social events provided opportunities for us to bond as a summer class and with the firm attorneys. The events were always well-attended by the summer associates and by firm attorneys. I was provided with opportunities to make real connections with my fellow summer associates and attorneys.”
• “Attorneys were constantly reaching out to meet one-on-one or in small groups for lunches or coffee. There were events at least once a month and often more.”

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• “I expected to have more work to do from the rotational program for first- and second-year associates. Instead, the firm distributes work through a free market system.”
• “I feel as though my summer experience largely tracked with how I was treated as a summer associate. The firm gives you the opportunity to take ownership over your work product while also providing you the support necessary.”
• “I didn't realize how work was given/assigned/dispersed during my time as a summer associate. It's a free market system, and you get work by networking, but during the summer, we used software that listed projects that needed summers. I was also told that you can really forge your own path with what you want to do and what areas you want to practice, and that has been true. Because it is a free market system, you can approach anyone who you are interested in working with and ask to be put on a project.”
• “Present reality has been quite close to my expectations. Corporate work has been relatively slow, and I did not fully anticipate the different sorts of stress that this would cause. I remain pleasantly surprised with the level of client interaction I am already trusted and expected to engage in. Being in a smaller office, I feel that work is more evenly distributed among our junior associates than it is in our larger offices. This is both good and bad (but mostly good).”

• “Summer Academy. The firm flies all summer associates out to its HQ in Palo Alto for a week of getting to know the other summer associates, the firm, and the different practice groups.”
• “Kayaking on Lake Union.”
• “Segways around DC. It was our first event together, but we all bonded right away.”
• “Happy hours where the firm had something reserved for a large group, followed by informal dinners with junior attorneys who wanted to stick around longer. There were also baseball games in the Nats box, a boat tour, summer academy, and many other things that everyone enjoyed.”

 

Our summer program offers a unique opportunity to work with the leading provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. Summer at our firm incorporates many things important to our culture: challenging and varied assignments, direct working relationships with our innovative clients, meeting a wide range of attorneys, a comprehensive training program, and exciting social activities that take advantage of our locations in technology centers around the country. We provide opportunities to give back by incorporating a Juneteenth Day of Service, community impact activities, as well as opportunities to contribute to many of the important pro bono matters the firm supports.