Summer associates in the Los Angeles 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 and our clients.
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 during and after assignments. Final evaluations are completed at the conclusion of each assignment. Exit interviews are conducted with every summer associate. Summer associates are encouraged to discuss any issues or concerns with their mentor, the Hiring Committee, attorneys 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 mentor 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. All attorneys are encouraged to participate in our formal events, as well as in informal lunches and other activities. Summer associates are also encouraged to attend educational sessions and all-attorney lunches.
Los Angeles Summer Program FAQ’s
Q: How many summer associates does the Los Angeles office expect to hire in 2012?
A: We are looking for nine to ten 2L’s.
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.
Q: Am I able to work on pro bono matters?
A: Summer associates are encouraged to work on pro bono matters during the summer. During previous summer associate programs, summer associates have worked on a project to help battered immigrant women obtain permanent US residency under the Violence Against Women Act, researched an Establishment Clause issue for the Anti-Defamation League, and conducted research and developed arguments in response to an opposition for a trademark application for a pro bono fashion design client.
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 via video-conference. 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 throughout the summer 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. Normally, you can expect a decision within two weeks after the interview date. Candidates receiving an offer will be notified by phone and letter.
Q: What law schools does Akin Gump’s LA office visit for on-campus interviews?
A: In 2011 we will visit: Columbia, Berkeley, Harvard, NYU, Penn, Pepperdine, Stanford, UCLA, and USC. The LA office is also represented by interviewers from our other offices at various 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 2011, the summer associate salary was $3,077 per week.
Q: Who should I contact with questions about associate positions in Los Angeles or to apply?
A: Applications for all associate positions should be addressed to:
Nicole S. Raiman
Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
2029 Century Park East
Suite 2400
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310.229.3804
310.229.3892 (fax)
Akin Gump's employment practices are practiced without regard to applicants' age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability unrelated to the job to be performed or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law.