The Washington, D.C., summer program, which is designed for students who have completed their second year of law school, provides the opportunity to work on challenging and interesting assignments from a variety of practice areas. Our summer associates receive excellent training, mentoring and feedback on their progress, all of which affords them an authentic investment in their work and in the firm.
We want our summer associates to have a clear picture of the diversity of work, resources and culture available to them at Akin Gump, as well as a strong sense of what it is like to practice law in Washington, D.C. We offer special opportunities to attend hearings, depositions, witness interviews and client meetings, as well as a variety of social events that allow the summer associates to get to know our lawyers and each other in informal settings. With outings to many of D.C.'s best attractions, we hope to showcase the vibrant and rich culture that makes Washington such a unique and exciting city.
Legal Assignments
One of our top priorities is to provide our summer associates with the type of work experience 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 them to ensure they work on assignments consistent with their goals for the summer.
Summer associates have the opportunity to work on interesting and challenging assignments that are similar to work being handled by our first- and second-year associates. Once a project is assigned, the supervising lawyer works with the summer associate to establish project guidelines, expectations and deadlines. Our attorneys welcome the opportunity to answer questions, clarify issues and provide support for our summer associates. While a summer associate's ability to work independently is crucial to his or her evaluation process, many of our previous summer associates have remarked that our "open door policy" makes the entire process less intimidating and more rewarding.
Recent summer associates have worked on assignments that include—
- preparing a motion to dismiss
- drafting stock option grants for various officers and directors of a company
- drafting documents for a credit agreement closing
- investigating class action or legislative remedies for a pro bono client
- preparing arguments in opposition to proposed antitrust legislation in the House Judiciary Committee
- investigating the status of internet domain names and how to initiate a dispute proceeding for a name already owned
- researching libel cases based on publication on a web site
- drafting discovery requests
- assisting with witness preparation and attending a deposition
- preparing an application for tax-exempt status for a charitable organization
- interviewing witnesses for a death penalty case.
Special Opportunities
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a lawyer can be the drama of appearing in court or meeting with clients and finding solutions to their dilemmas. We want our summer associates to share those same exciting experiences. To that end, outside of their normal assignments, we offer special opportunities to attend depositions, hearings, witness interviews and client meetings.
Special opportunities become available as a result of our lawyers' willingness to share their workdays with summer associates. Their active participation is evidence of our firmwide commitment to making the summer experience as valuable as possible.
Training & Development
In addition to work assignments, we provide summer associates with many development and training opportunities throughout the summer. We offer programs such as legal writing, pro bono training and a judicial clerkship advice panel. In addition, we also have programs to help summer associates develop their practice skills in areas such as client interviews, negotiations and trial practice. Developed and taught by our attorneys, these non-evaluative programs allow our summer associates to learn valuable skills from seasoned attorneys. All sessions are designed to enhance summer associates’ legal careers and experience at the firm. Summer associates are also encouraged to participate in in-office departmental training programs and meetings in order to meet additional members of a department and learn more about our practice areas.
Pro Bono
Summer associates are encouraged to work on pro bono cases—and in 2011 every one of our summer associates worked on pro bono matters.
Our summer program was highlighted by our participation in a firm-wide project to assist battered immigrant women obtain permanent residency in the United States under the Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA"). Summer associates in the Washington, D.C. office worked with these women, taking the lead in client interviews and drafting comprehensive letters and affidavits to support their applications.
Other pro bono matters on which our summer associates have worked include the following—
- adoption referrals
- asylum cases
- custody disputes
- Social Security disability payments cases
- a termination of parental rights hearing.
In addition, our summer associates enjoy getting involved in our work with Tyler Elementary School ("Tyler"), a local school Akin Gump has adopted. The firm supports Tyler with tutoring programs, restoration projects, school supply drives and more. Akin Gump also participates in "Buildable Hours" through the Washington, D.C. Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Our summer associates spend a day assisting with the construction of a D.C. Habitat for Humanity home. This is an important and rewarding part of our summer program.
Summer Pro Bono Scholars Program
The Akin Gump Pro Bono Scholars Summer Program is intended to be a two-year program (two summers) for top law school students who show a strong interest in making pro bono an integral part of their Akin Gump careers.
Click here for more information about this program.
Diversity
Akin Gump is committed to a diverse workplace and seeks to hire lawyers from all backgrounds. We actively participate in several events and programs throughout the year to attract diverse applicants. The firm has both firmwide and Washington, D.C. office diversity committees whose members represent a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and orientations. The purpose of these committees is to strengthen the firm's ongoing recruitment and retention efforts.
Summer Events
The firm offers a wide variety of social events that allow summer associates the opportunity to get to know our attorneys, the firm and each other throughout the summer. Past summer events have included bowling night, a Washington Nationals baseball game, a Kennedy Center event, pizza and beer tasting and more. In addition, partners and associates frequently take summer associates to lunch in small, informal groups. Weekly social events, such as softball games against other local law firms, and happy hours with the associates, also allow for summer associates to interact with attorneys outside the office.
Hiring Criteria
Akin Gump seeks exceptional students who will have completed their second year of law school upon the start of our program and who are interested in practicing law in Washington, D.C. after graduation. We look for students with outstanding academic credentials, law review or journal membership, moot court experience, previous work experience, excellent interpersonal skills and who have taken part in extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership abilities.
Where To Apply
All interested applicants should send a resume and transcript to:
Lauren Marsh Attorney Recruiting and Development Manager
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Robert S. Strauss Building
1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-1564
202.887.4062
202.887.4288 (fax)
dcrecruiting@akingump.com
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Washington, D.C., Summer Program FAQs
Q: How many summer associates does the Washington office expect to have in 2012?
A: We expect to have between 18 and 20 summer associates in 2012.
Q: Do you hire 1Ls for your Summer Associate Program?
A: We do not hire 1Ls for our Summer Program. However, the Pro Bono Scholars Program is made up of 1Ls. The program is intended to be a two-year (two summers) program for top law school students who show a strong interest in making pro bono an integral part of their Akin Gump careers.
In 2011, three 1Ls participated in our Pro Bono Scholars Program.
Q: Do you allow split summers?
A: We require that all summer associates spend a minimum of the first eight weeks of the summer with us, and we encourage them to spend the entire summer so we can better evaluate them and for them to become completely familiar with our firm.
Q: What can I expect as far as training in the summer program?
A: We offer many training opportunities throughout the summer. These include practice skills programs on topics such as client interviews, negotiations and trial practice. All of the programs are presented in-house by our attorneys. We also offer a writing training course taught by one of our partners. In addition, our summer associates have the opportunity to observe and participate in real-life training scenarios by attending client meetings, depositions and hearings.
Q: What type of feedback should I expect?
A: At Akin Gump, we take a proactive approach to ensure that our summer associates succeed. Our attorneys are committed to providing meaningful feedback on all projects. Summer associates have two formal evaluations throughout the summer: at the midpoint and at the end of the summer. In the evaluations, each summer associate meets with his or her partner mentor and a member of the Hiring Committee to discuss his or her progress.
Q: In such a large firm, 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 and these include the assignment process, training programs and social events. In addition, summer associates are taken to lunch by partners and associates in small, informal groups.
Q: Do summer associates have mentors and advisors?
A: Each summer associate is paired with a mentoring team, which consists of a peer advisor, mentor and partner mentor. The peer advisor is generally an associate whose responsibility is to facilitate the summer associates’ integration into the social structure of the firm. The mentor is a senior associate or counsel whose responsibility is to oversee professional development and ensure that summer associates are satisfied with the assignments and feedback they are receiving. The partner mentor is a partner whose responsibility is to help facilitate partner interaction between the summer associates and partners.
Q: What are your hiring criteria for summer associates?
A: We look for outstanding academic credentials, law review/journal membership, 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?
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 final decision.
Q: How long after I interview should I expect a hiring decision?
A: Our Hiring Committee meets weekly. Normally, one can expect a decision within a few weeks after the callback interview. Candidates who receive an offer will be notified by phone and a letter will follow.
Q: What law schools does Akin Gump’s Washington office visit for on-campus interviews?
A: In 2011, we will visit American, Catholic, Columbia, Georgetown, George Washington, Harvard, Howard, New York University, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania and University of Virginia. We also review the resumes of write-in applicants and often hire students who do not attend our on-campus schools.
Q: What is your salary for summer associates?
A: Our 2011 summer associate salary was $3,077 per week.
Washington Office First Year Associate Hiring
Q: What is the salary for first year associates starting in the fall of 2011?
A: Our current salary for first-year associates is $160,000.
Q: Do you hire judicial clerks or 3Ls for associate positions?
A: Yes, we will consider judicial clerks and 3Ls as needed.
Q: Are your associates assigned to one practice group or do they rotate?
A: Our associates are assigned to one practice group, based primarily on their interests. This assignment enables our associates to focus on a particular area of law and maintain consistency with clients and cases. However, there is often overlap with other sections, allowing broader exposure to many areas of the law.
Q: Who should I contact with questions about associate positions in Washington, D.C., or to apply?
A: Applications for all associate positions should be addressed to:
Lauren Marsh, Attorney Recruiting and Development Manager
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Robert S. Strauss Building
1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-1564
202.887.4062
202.887.4288 (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.
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