Summer associates in the San Francisco office participate in a variety of challenging work assignments and an array of exciting social events. We are committed to hiring a diverse group of law students with excellent credentials and high motivation. Our goal is to make offers of employment to all summer associates who demonstrate the ability to practice law at the level required by the firm.

Assignments and Reviews

Our summer program provides law students with the opportunity to work closely with our attorneys in each area of our practice. We also encourage summer associates to attend court hearings, depositions and client meetings. Verbal feedback is provided over the course of the assignment and final evaluations are completed at the conclusion of each assignment. Mid-summer and exit interviews are conducted with every summer associate. Summer associates are encouraged throughout the clerkship to discuss any concerns or problems with their mentor, the Hiring Committee, any attorney with whom they are working or the recruiting manager. At the conclusion of the summer, the Hiring Committee reviews summer associate work product, assignment evaluations and any additional comments before making a decision regarding a full-time position.

Mentoring

Each summer associate has a junior and a senior mentor who act as liaisons throughout the summer. Mentors are responsible for arranging informal lunches with various attorneys and the summer associate, monitoring work assignments and assisting to integrate the summer associate into the firm.

Activities

We provide summer associates with many opportunities, formal and informal, to meet our attorneys and to experience the dynamic environment of our office. Attorney involvement is an important part of the summer program, and all attorneys are encouraged to participate in our formal events, as well as coordinate informal lunches and other activities. Summer associates are also encouraged to attend educational sessions and all attorney lunches.

 top of page

San Francisco Summer Program FAQ’s

Q: How many summer associates does the San Francisco office expect to hire in 2009?

A: We are looking for one 2L.

Q: Do you allow split summers?

A: We strongly encourage summer associates to spend the entire summer with us to enable them to become completely familiar with our firm, although we are willing to consider split summers on a case by case basis if the summer associate spends a minimum of the first eight weeks with us.

Q: Do I have to pick a particular practice area in the beginning of the summer?

A: No.  We encourage our summer associates to explore opportunities in a variety of practice areas throughout the summer.  That said, the focus of our office is primarily on litigation and energy.

Q: What can I expect as far as training in your summer program?

A: Summer associates participate in a variety of training programs, including legal research and writing as well as the firm-wide training event held in our Washington, DC office.  Summer associates will receive challenging and realistic work assignments, with constructive feedback from the assigning attorneys.  The summer associates also have the opportunity to observe and participate in real-life training scenarios by attending client meetings, negotiations, depositions and hearings and to attend all attorney and MCLE lunches.  One important element of our summer program involves summer associates’ participation in a mock trial, through which summer associates will learn important trial and other litigation skills.  In addition, one of our senior litigation partners reviews each written work product in order to provide substantive and meaningful feedback to the summer associates.

Q: How do the summer associates get to know the attorneys?

A: We offer many opportunities for our summer associates to get to know our attorneys through a wide variety of social and cultural events.  In addition, we encourage our attorneys to take summer associates to lunch and dinner in small, informal groups.

Q: What are your hiring criteria for summer associates?

A: We look for candidates of the highest character and integrity who possess outstanding academic credentials, law review/journal membership or another indication of strong writing skills, moot court, previous work experience, excellent interpersonal skills and extracurricular activities demonstrating leadership abilities.  We seek well-rounded, intelligent individuals.

Q: How are your hiring decisions made?

A: Each of your interviewers will prepare an evaluation, which includes an assessment of your academic achievement, work experience, and other factors that indicate a successful match with our firm.  In addition, your writing sample is reviewed carefully.  The Hiring Committee then weighs the criteria and makes a decision.

Q: How long after I interview should I expect a hiring decision?

A: Our Hiring Committee meets regularly during the recruiting season (usually weekly).  Normally, you can expect a decision within two weeks of the interview date.  Candidates receiving an offer will be notified by phone and letter.

Q: What law schools does Akin Gump’s SF office visit for on-campus interviews?

A: In 2008 we will visit Berkeley Law.  The SF office is also represented by interviewers from our other offices at various other campuses during OCI.  We also review the resumes of write-in applicants and consider students who do not attend schools at which we interview on-campus.

Q: What is your salary for summer associates?

A: In 2008, the summer associate salary will be $3,077 per week.  We have not yet determined our 2009 summer associate salaries, but it will be competitive with other large SF law firms.