The New York office has grown significantly since we opened in 1993, and our summer program has kept pace with our growing office. Our 2008 summer program had 16 second-year law students, three first-year law students and one pre-law student, drawing from schools such as Brooklyn, Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown, George Washington University, Harvard, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, University of Texas and the University of Virginia. We view the summer associate program as an important part of our hiring process and expect to fill our first-year associate positions from the ranks of our summer associates.
We are committed to providing our summer associates with work experience that they would find should they join us as associates following their graduation. Our summer associates work on a variety of projects, and we collaborate with our summer associates to ensure they work on projects consistent with their goals for the summer. Summer associates have accompanied our attorneys to appellate arguments and other court hearings, depositions, client meetings, closings, negotiations, and drafting sessions.
Legal Assignments
"From the beginning of the assignment, I was involved in conference calls (after working on the assignment for a while, I even got to ask the client questions) and meetings. It was explained to me exactly how my project would fit into the big picture. I was not only doing legal research, but using the research to interpret the loan documents I was reviewing. I got to work closely with two different attorneys who were very good about encouraging me and giving me feedback." —New York summer associate
A variety of assignments are available to our summer associates. Regardless of whether you know which area of law you would like to practice, we work with you to make sure you accomplish your goals of learning about the practice areas that interest you. We designate work using assigning partners to coordinate the summer associates' projects throughout the summer. Recent summer associates have worked assignments that include–
• Assisted in the review and synthesis of complex contracts and in the preparation of a memorandum for presentation to the client analyzing the results of such review, in connection with the negotiation of a $1.7 billion credit facility.
• Assisted with diligence, documentation and submission of a bid by a private equity investor for the purchase of a new portfolio company. Attended client meetings and presentations, reviewed agreements and managed certain aspects of bid submission process.
• Assisted with the research and preparation in a complex litigation relating to various partnerships that hold real property. In addition to hearing preparation, the summer had the opportunity to attend the hearing before the SDNYAssisted on a closing of a senior construction and mezzanine financing in connection with the property at 72
nd and Broadway in Manhattan.
• Prepared witnesses for key depositions in a large commercial litigation matter and attended the depositions.
• Participated in all aspects of discovery and mediation for a breach of contract relating to an online marketing agreement between two leading internet companies. Also prepared responses to the adversary’s document requests and assisted in the review and production of documents.
• Drafted a complaint in state court for a single plaintiff in a suit against his employer for back wages and wages owed in connection with his termination.
• Attended hearings before U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge, researched legal issues in preparation of the hearing and participated in team strategy meetings.
• Drafted a letter to the SEC requesting confidential treatment for a NYSE listed company and prepared related exhibits accompanying the confidential treatment request.
Getting to Know Us
"All of the events gave great opportunities for the summer associates to get to know the firm, the attorneys, the New York office and each other." —New York summer associate
Not only do we want to see what kind of legal work you can do, we also want to get to know you. And we know that you want to get to know us too! With that in mind, we offer a wide assortment of opportunities to socialize with us.
We plan our summer associate events to include something for everyone. Summer program events have included a bowling night, a Yankees baseball game, a family and significant other night at the Victorian Gardens in Central Park, intimate dinner parties at partners' homes, Country Club Day of golf and tennis, a Broadway show, a cooking competition, Habitat for Humanity, video game happy hour, and a firmwide summer associate retreat in DC. In addition, attorneys and summer associates get together for a variety of impromptu events, and our summer associates are valuable additions to our attorney softball and basketball teams. New York City, and particularly midtown Manhattan, offers a wealth of great restaurants, ranging from fancy eateries to corner delis. Summer associates enjoy casual and formal lunches at which they can sit back and connect with attorneys at the firm. We encourage our summer associates to attend our departmental breakfasts and lunches so that they can meet attorneys in all of our departments, as well as learn more about particular practice groups.
Training & Development
"The summer associate training programs and departmental lunches were extremely useful. The training programs really gave us a sense of how our discrete projects fit into a bigger picture, and gave us a chance to experiment with presentation/negotiation styles and techniques. The departmental meetings gave us a real, honest account of life in the department and the status of its work and goals." —New York summer associate
We offer an extensive training program for our summer associates. The main features of the training are three interactive programs for financial restructuring, corporate, and litigation.
Summer associates participate in a financial restructuring training program in which they are presented with a fact pattern of a hypothetical company in financial distress. Summer associates are split into teams representing different constituency groups in the distressed situation and conduct a mock negotiation. This training allows summer associates to actively learn and apply the main concepts of corporate finance, corporate law and bankruptcy law.
The corporate training program introduces summer associates to private equity and capital market transactions. This past summer during the first training session, the summer associates were introduced to the deal making process of private equity acquisitions. The summers reviewed the legal documentation involved and learned the art of balancing competing considerations that confront buyers and sellers. In the second training session, the summer associates were given a summary overview of securities laws and received helpful insights in how to analyze and prepare securities filings. In each case, the training was both a rewarding and thought provoking introduction into the transactional practice.
The hands-on interactive litigation training session teaches summer associates how to take depositions, examine witnesses and give opening and closing statements, and culminates in a mock trial to be conducted by the summer associates and presided over by experienced Akin Gump trial lawyers. In addition, our summer associates have the opportunity to observe and attend trials, client meetings, depositions, hearings and closings.
Mentors & Advisors
Each summer associate is assigned three mentors. Associates, counsel and partners serve as mentors. We try to match the mentors and summer associates by interests, law school or experiences. The responsibility of the mentors is to facilitate the summer associates' integration into the social structure of the firm by arranging for attorneys to take the summer associates to lunch, joining the summer associates at firm functions, acquainting them with our attorneys and staff, and introducing them to the New York City area. In addition, mentors serve as counselors and professional advisors.
Hiring Criteria
We look for outstanding academic credentials and overall achievement, interpersonal skills and work experience. If you are dynamic, motivated and interested in a sophisticated, rapidly growing office where you will have the opportunity to assume responsibility early on in your career, we encourage you to send your resume to:
Where To Apply
All interested applicants should send a resume and transcript to:
Bryna Beckler-Knoll, Esq., Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
590 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022-2524
212.872.8063
212.872.1002 (fax)
bbeckler-knoll@akingump.com
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New York Summer Program FAQs
Q: How many summer associates does the New York office plan to have in the 2009 summer program?
A: We plan to hire 15-20 summer associates in our 2009 summer program.
Q: What kind of offer can a 1L summer associate in the summer class receive?
A: 1L summer associates may receive permanent offers provided they spend at least two weeks in the New York office during the summer following their second year of law school.
Q: Who were the 2008 summer associates and from which law schools did they come?
A: Tim Clark (Brooklyn 2009), Laurie DePalo (Brooklyn 2009), Anastasia Kerdock (Columbia University 2009), Mike Cross (Cornell University 2009), Jennifer Woodson (Georgetown 2009), Chris Carty (George Washington University 2009), Robbie Friedman (University of Michigan 2009), Camilo Becdach (New York University 2009), Chris Boyd (New York University 2009), Elijah Green (New York University 2010), Jessica Oliff (New York University 2009), Russell Wininger (New York University 2009), Kerry Potter McCormick (University of Texas 2009), Nick Adams (University of Virginia 2009), Sarah Bender (University of Virginia 2009), Dawn Harrop (University of Virginia 2009), Kate Lawrence (University of Virginia 2009), Vlad Vainberg (University of Pennsylvania 2010), Gabe Cohen (Harvard University 2010), Sakisha Jackson (Harvard University 2011).
Q: Does the New York office allow split summers?
A: Although we encourage students to spend the entire summer program with us, we do consider split summers for 2L summer associates on a case by case basis.
Q: Do summer associates 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. In addition, we host weekly summer associate breakfasts at which many of the firm's section managers give informal presentations about their practice areas.
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 throughout the summer. This past summer we had a variety of events including a Country Club firm outing, an evening at Victorian Gardens in Central Park, a Broadway Show, a bowling evening, a cooking competition, video game happy hour, a Yankees game, a firmwide summer associate retreat in DC, and intimate dinner parties at various Partner's homes. Summer associates are also encouraged to go out to lunch with attorneys in the office to get to know them better.
Q: Who coordinates work assignments?
A: We have two Assigning Partners who coordinate summer associate assignments. It is the responsibility of the Assigning Partners to insure that summer associates receive a variety of projects across all of our practice areas.
Q: Do summer associates have the opportunity to work on Pro Bono assignments?
A: As an integral part of our summer program, Akin Gump has a Summer Pro Bono Program that is specifically tailored to summer associates. Taking advantage of our relationships with numerous legal services organizations, Akin Gump identifies and accepts pro bono projects that are well-suited to the interests and talents of our summer associates. The assignments are geared to maximize front-line responsibility on the part of the summer associates while ensuring that they receive appropriate supervision from experienced attorneys. Through this unique program, last year's summer associates gained invaluable experience and some notable victories for pro bono clients, including:
- assisted in an action brought by the parents of an autistic child against a school district that was found to have an illegal policy of refusing to provide any disabled child with a highly effective therapy methodology in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- represented a woman from Niger seeking refuge in the United States because of her religious beliefs. The summer associate interviewed the client, researched relevant case law and background information , attended hearings, and completed a working outline of the brief which will be submitted to the immigration court.
- participated in the representation of a trans-gender Christian male from Pakistan seeking legal status in the United States because of repeated persecution in his home country
- conducted research for appellate papers before the Second Circuit appealing the denial of habeas corpus petition sought by our client who is contending that he was wrongfully convicted with evidence that was wrongly admitted at trial
- represent women in applying for legal status under the Violence Against Women Act.
Q: What kind of evaluation procedures does the New York office have to evaluate summer associate work?
A: Each project on which a summer associate works is evaluated by the attorney(s) who supervises the work. These evaluations are reviewed by the Assigning Partners and Hiring Partner so that they can monitor each summer associate's performance. In addition, there is a formal mid-summer review for each summer associate as well as an exit review.
Q: What are the hiring criteria for summer associates?
A: We look for 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 hiring decisions made for summer associate candidates?
A: Each interviewer completes an evaluation, which includes his/her assessment of the candidate's academic achievement, work experience, and other factors that indicate a successful match with our office. The Hiring Committee then weighs the criteria and makes a decision.
Q: How long after a candidate interviews in the New York office should he/she expect a hiring decision?
A: During the Fall interviewing season our Hiring Committee meets on a weekly basis. Normally, a candidate can expect a decision within 7 days from the time he/she has had a callback interview. Candidates who receive an offer will be notified by phone and letter.
Q: What law schools does the New York office visit for on-campus interviews?
A: During the 2009 Fall interviewing season, we will interview at Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Fordham, Georgetown, George Washington University, Harvard, Howard, New York University, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas, Tulane and University of Virginia. The New York office also reviews the resumes of write-in applicants and resume drops from Brooklyn and Cardozo.
Q: What is the salary for summer associates?
A: The 2009 summer associate salary is $3,077 per week. This amount is based on the first-year associate salary of $160,000.
Q: Do you hire 1Ls for your summer program?
A: This decision is made at the end of our Fall recruiting season and depends on the number of 2Ls we have for the summer program.
Q: How large is the New York office?
A: Currently, there are approximately 205 attorneys practicing in the New York office.
New York Office First Year Associate Hiring
Q: Are associates hired for a specific practice area?
A: Yes.
Q: What are the salary and benefits for first-year associates starting in the Fall of 2009?
A: Currently, our first-year associate salary in the New York office is $160,000. Associates are eligible for year-end bonuses. The firm also provides health, dental, and life insurance, a disability plan, a 401(k) plan, domestic partner benefits, maternity leave, bar and moving expenses, bar dues, license fees, and a federal judicial clerkship bonus.
Q: Who should I contact with questions about the New York summer program or to apply?
A: Applications for all summer associate positions should be addressed to:
Bryna Beckler-Knoll, Esq., Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
212.872.8063
212.872.1002 (fax)
bbeckler-knoll@akingump.com
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