Summer Program

Summer at ArentFox Schiff is a time for you to get to know us and for us to get to know you! Summer associates quickly discover why our program is unique. You will leave the program with a solid understanding of the opportunities available to you after law school and a great sense of the people you’ll be working with. Our culture, team approach, professional training, and social opportunities are why ArentFox Schiff stands apart.

My experience as a summer associate at AFS was filled with learning opportunities and mentorship. I was able to try many different practice areas including environmental law, private clients, trusts and estates, corporate law, and complex litigation. Being able to explore the different practice areas was an invaluable experience that really helped me hone in on the type of law I wanted to practice upon graduating. I also worked with attorneys across the firm in different offices. One experience in particular that I enjoyed was drafting a motion for summary judgment that was used by the attorney for his case. The mentorship opportunities are incredible at AFS, and the summer program really allowed me to meet with so many attorneys and learn about the different practices and the firm as a whole.

– 2023 Summer Associate

The Work

ArentFox Schiff summer associates learn first-hand what life is like as an associate at the firm. You will do real work for real clients, and your experience closely resembles the workload of a junior associate. The work is important, responsibilities are clear, and the expectations are realistic. Most importantly, you will work directly with partners and other associates throughout the firm – just like our associates.

Variety of Assignments

We want our summer associates to experience a variety of areas of the law and interact with lawyers across the firm. Based on personal interests and workflow, summer associates work on a wide range of assignments with ArentFox Schiff lawyers from around the country.

On the Job Training

In addition to receiving meaningful work assignments, you will have a number of training opportunities.

Summer Colloquium

A two-day retreat where summer associates from all offices come together to participate in trainings, oral communications and writing workshops, and social events. Location varies by year.

Lunch & Learn Series

This program expands associates’ knowledge of the firm, showing them how practice groups interact. The series also covers topics including Business Development 101, Pro Bono 101, and Law Firm Economics.

Take-Alongs

We encourage lawyers to involve summer associates in “live” learning opportunities, including negotiations, depositions, hearings, or closings.

Professional Development

Learning never stops when you’re an attorney. Rather, to have a successful legal career, you must develop a broad range of skills. At every level here, lawyers are offered opportunities for training, mentoring, evaluation, and advancement. We provide supportive resources such as core skills and practice-based skill guidelines for associates to use as road maps in driving their careers. Our curriculum supports mastery of these skills, which reflect the firm’s expectations and strategic business goals.

Summer Events

ArentFox Schiff takes advantage of having its offices in world-class cities to provide memorable social programs for summer associates. Events typically include concerts, cooking classes, courthouse visits, sporting events, sailing trips, theater, and wine tastings.

FAQs

Where is the ArentFox Schiff Summer Program located?

• ArentFox Schiff hosts summer programs in our BOS, CHI, DC, NY, LA, and SF Offices.

What types of assignments do summer associates receive?

• Summer associates help with ongoing client matters. This often includes conducting legal research, drafting memoranda and emails, and attending client conferences. Summer associates receive assignments from a designated assignment monitor.

How does the evaluation process work?

• Feedback is a central component of our summer associate program. Supervising attorneys review each assignment, and we also encourage summer associates to reach out for informal feedback from not only your mentor and advisor but from other attorneys at the firm as well. At mid-summer and at the end of summer, summer chairs review your assignments, consult with assigning attorneys, and conduct performance reviews.

How long is the summer program?

• The summer program lasts for 10 weeks. It begins in late May and ends in late July.

Is there a mentor program for summer associates?

• Yes. We assign each summer associate a personal team of dedicated attorneys and staff for guidance and support. Each summer associate is paired with a partner or counsel mentor,  as well as an associate advisor to help them get to know the firm. Both your mentor and advisor will introduce you to colleagues and serve as important resources over the summer.

Are summer associates able to work on pro bono matters?

• Yes, summer associates have the opportunity and are encouraged to work on pro bono cases.

What happens when summer associates return to the firm as first-year associates?

• When summer associates return to the firm as first-year associates, they are encouraged to re-engage with the work and people they enjoyed getting to know over the summer and continue to explore different practice areas.
• Practice group assignments are based on both the first-year associates’ interests and the firm’s needs. The firm  aims to assign first-year associates to practice groups after they have spent about six months at the firm.  At that point, the first-year associates will have stronger working relationships, and the firm will have a good sense of  practice group needs.