When you spend a summer with us, you will be engaged and make an impact in a range of legal assignments and practice areas. Some of our offices offer formal rotations through practice groups, and we encourage you to work on matters of particular interest. In past summers, summer associates have actively participated in projects such as:
- Advocating on Capitol Hill to secure the freedom of a Chinese National
- Helping a small company secure venture financing
- Screening You-Tube clips for potential infringement of a client's intellectual property
- Interviewing inmates sentenced as juveniles to life without parole
- Drafting a memo on the environmental liability of a former landowner and manufacturer
- Reviewing foreign national extradition procedures
- Drafting a memo on constructive termination within the context of sexual harassment
- Researching discovery issues for a senior partner arbitrating a complex transportation dispute
- Reviewing a Fortune 500 company's print ads to illuminate potential legal issues
- Conducting due diligence and preparing closing documents for an office building acquisition
- Drafting an opinion letter for a housing organization on First Amendment rights of the homeless
- Creating articles of incorporation, by-laws and organizational resolutions
- Attending depositions, client conferences, Capitol Hill hearings and court hearings
What is the training like? As you might expect, DLA Piper provides comprehensive in-house training programs for associates. These are designed to provide the essential skills for effective, engaged service to our clients. What you might not expect is the range of additional opportunities to deepen your knowledge of the law. Recently, summer associates have:
- Sharpened their legal writing, drafting, negotiation and time management skills through workshops. Refined their courtroom presence in mock trial programs
- Learned about the range of practice groups through luncheons and breakfasts hosted by lawyers working in those groups
- Worked face-to-face with clients through our pro bono program.
How will I know how well I am doing? Our lawyers are committed to providing you with immediate and meaningful feedback throughout the program. You will get a written evaluation for every assignment you complete. You will also receive performance reviews in the middle and at the end of the summer. Additionally, you will have one or two mentors guiding you and answering your questions about work-related matters, DLA Piper and the practice of law.
Experience Accenture DLA Piper and Accenture have joined to create "Enhancing the DLA Piper Summer Experience: A Collaboration between DLA Piper and Accenture" through which you may experience working one week in-house at Accenture in select cities. If selected, you would shadow lawyers, join in conference calls and meetings, review contracts and documents and attend business and social events.