Work Assignments | Training | Benefits & Compensation | NALP Forms
Work Assignments
The summer program exposes law students to the day-to-day activities of practicing lawyers. We don't use a rotation system or assign students to particular attorneys. Instead, summer associates receive assignments based on their expressed preferences either by selecting projects from our online assignment database or by using our free-market system. We encourage summer associates to seek work informally by meeting partners and associates with whom they have a shared interest. Summer projects involve actual client matters which provide invaluable hands-on experience, and there are frequent opportunities to observe or participate in court proceedings, depositions, closings, client conferences, and negotiation sessions. This multi-faceted approach leaves room for summer associates to explore different areas as well as work with a variety of lawyers.
Through our summer associate mentoring program, each summer associate is paired with both partner and associate mentors. Mentors provide one-on-one guidance for summer associates and help them navigate the ins and outs of law firm life. They also help ensure that summer associates work with a variety of lawyers on projects geared to providing them with a realistic perspective of the work performed by entering associates.
Of course, one summer is not enough time for a law student to experience everything that a working lawyer will encounter over years of practice. We admit that we go out of our way to make the experience fun for summer associates. We recognize that our summer associates enjoy a slightly different play/work ratio than typical practicing lawyers, but we make every effort to integrate them into our challenging work environment so that they are able to draw the right conclusions about working at Mayer Brown.
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Training
Flexibility in the assignment process, informal and formal performance feedback, a network of accessible advisors from every practice area, and formal training programs all contribute to a highly customized program that offers a broad array of opportunities for the individual growth and development of our summer associates. Our lawyers host practice area breakfasts, luncheons, seminars and social events. Each practice area gives a presentation on its group and invites the summer associates to regular group meetings and training sessions. The summer associates also meet as a group on a weekly basis to learn about firm committees, firm economics and other topics.
Our lawyers work closely with the summer associates on client matters and summer associates are encouraged to request informal feedback upon completion of an assignment. Summer associates are also invited to practice area meetings and training sessions. More formal discussions about each summer associate's progress are conducted twice during the program. All summer associates are assigned a two associate mentors as well as a partner mentor. All of the attorneys on the Summer Program Committee maintain an "open door" policy for regular meetings with any summer associate.
Each summer, we also hold training programs specifically for our summer associates. We offer programs designed to develop skills in persuasive communications, negotiations, and in triad advocacy. Training opportunities are further strengthened by the summer pro bono options available to all summer associates.
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Benefits & Compensation
CompensationSummer Associates in 2012 are paid at a rate of $3,077 per week.
Administrative Support
Summer associates share an office, have an assigned secretary, and their own computer with access to word processing, email, Lexis, Westlaw, and the Internet. Our New York office runs a 24-hour word processing, reproduction, proofreading and telecommunications operation with the capacity to assist our lawyers at any time 7 days a week. Our on-site cafeteria provides convenient and healthy options for meals, and operates from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Business Casual Attire
Lawyers at Mayer Brown enjoy business casual attire year-round. They are expected to keep an outfit of traditional business attire in the office for unplanned meetings and court appearances.
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