Winston & Strawn LLP

• “The training was thorough. The work assignments were on par with what my friends at other law firms did as summers; there is only so much that a summer associate is able to do (client alerts, a research memo, etc.).”
• “The work assignments got you a taste of what to look for when doing research for real cases. Importantly, the assignments gave you a low-stakes chance to connect with attorneys, make a good impression, and set yourself up for getting work when you return full-time.”
• “Mock oral arguments, mock contract negotiations, client call shadowing, and first-year-type work assignments gave us great opportunities to see what the work of the different departments felt like.”
• “Winston immerses you in depositions, ongoing trials, and hearings. Winston also strives to give you assignments that align with your interests while also pushing you out of your comfort zone. You are trained to be an effective writer and researcher.”

• “The camaraderie among summer associates is some of the best of any firms in the area from what I have heard. Our summer class opted to host a non-firm-sponsored summer event of our own at the end of the summer, and that sense of camaraderie has continued into our first year.” 
• “Social events were awesome and much better than peers at other firms in the same city. The class size is perfect because there's enough people to where you can find a few who you mesh with, but it's small enough that everyone knows everyone and will notice if you're missing from a social event. Winston does a great job of hiring people with social personalities (even if introverted!), and that showed in that connections I had with others at events. We had a casino night, bowling night, cooking competition, Cubs game, etc. But my favorite was just a dinner at a nice restaurant where we were seated with attorneys and summers because it fostered more than the intro-level conversations.” 
• “A small-medium summer class size, 1 or more social event per week, and unlimited summer lunches provided excellent opportunities to socialize and get to know fellow summers, associates, and partners.”
• “The program offers summer events basically every week of your internship. These events range from sporting events, cooking classes, boat rides, firework shows, and casino nights. Partners and senior and mid-level associates often attend these events, giving summer associates valuable opportunities to develop connections with people they will work with in the future.”

• “I have been pleasantly surprised that I have a work-life balance a lot of the time; for example, I had a slow week during the winter holidays and really got to prioritize family. I wish more partners used our assignment system, as the firm is more free market than initially advertised.” 
• “Summer work is very minimal, as you are primarily there to make connections with other attorneys. Everyone knows that too. At the time, I felt like getting to know the work was the most important thing. But in hindsight, I was wrong. Winston hires smart people who can do the job, so you really don't need that test run. But finding people I clicked with and could work with when I returned was essential and way more beneficial. That's exactly what Winston's summer work allowed for, and I was pleasantly surprised in hindsight.” 
• “The biggest difference between the summer program and working as an associate now is the ability to start a case from the very beginning rather than being parachuted in. It's both easier to get looped in when a case is early on and also when the team knows you will be around for more than three months and are more willing to make a substantial investment in you. That said, the baseline work of what I am asked to do, whether it is legal research, drafting exercises, and the like is the same as when I was a summer; I just have more time to dive into everything now that I am full-time.” 
• “The summer associate program painted an actual picture of practice. If anything, it downplayed the degree of flexibility in terms of seeking out work, interfacing across different practice areas, and working with leading partners on the leading cases or deals. I have been pleasantly surprised, too, by the day one exposure I have had to substantive, meaningful responsibility on my cases.”

Law students who join Winston & Strawn’s summer associate program have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of corporate and litigation projects with outstanding attorneys who are welcoming, kind, and genuinely invested in their professional growth and happiness.

Winston’s greatest strength is our people, and we support them throughout their careers. Winston University, a world-class series of legal and professional skills-training programs, is the centerpiece of the firm’s learning culture. Our formal mentoring program helps entry-level attorneys begin their careers with confidence, and our full-time Director of Coaching & Well-Being provides targeted support for career, performance, and wellness goals.

Winston has embedded diversity, equity, and inclusion into the fabric of the firm. Affinity groups for Black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ+, MENA, first-gen professionals, and women attorneys play a critical role in the hiring, advancement, retention, and promotion of diverse lawyers throughout the firm. The firm also has affinity groups for attorneys who identify as having a disability and for veterans and active-duty service members. The firm’sFamily Network affinity group is open to parents and caregivers as well as those supporting an aging family member.

Active engagement in pro bono and within the communities where we work is a hallmark of Winston.