Job Title: 2026 2L Summer Associate
Job Responsibilities:
The 2026 2L Summer Associate will engage in a comprehensive six-week program designed to provide a thorough understanding of the law firm's operations, practice areas, and culture. Responsibilities include:
- Participating in real work assignments on behalf of clients across various practice disciplines.
- Engaging in hands-on practical experience (HOPE) opportunities, such as attending court appearances, trials, depositions, mediations, client interviews, and deal closings alongside attorneys.
- Rotating between the firm's five office locations to gain exposure to different communities, practice areas, and attorneys.
- Receiving frequent evaluations of work product to facilitate developmental progress, with feedback provided on every completed project.
- Being assigned a Summer Associate Mentor, an attorney who will provide guidance on firm-related, community, and quality of life issues, as well as inform associates about social, cultural, and volunteer opportunities.
- Participating in social activities designed to enhance familiarity with the firm's attorneys and the geographic advantages of each office location.
Education and Experience Information:
Candidates must be second-year law students (2Ls) with strong interpersonal skills, academic achievement, and intellectual capability. Competitive candidates will:
- Demonstrate a well-defined interest in the law firm and familiarity with its practice areas and locations.
- Show academic excellence, with additional value placed on participation in Moot Court and Law Review, leadership in student group activities, community volunteerism, and diverse life and work experiences.
- Exhibit key performance factors such as critical thinking, complex problem-solving, emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and a collaborative mindset.
- Be adept in the professional use of technology and social media to promote themselves and the firm.
Salary Information:
The text does not provide specific salary information for the 2026 2L Summer Associate position.
Application Process:
To apply for the 2026 Summer Associate Program:
- If the law firm does not participate in your law school's 2L on-campus interview (OCI) program, apply directly via the provided application link.
- Required documents include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and law school transcript.
- Cover letters must specify geographical preferences (Raleigh, Asheville, Wilmington, New Bern, or Greenville), practice area interests, and connection to North Carolina.
- For non-OCI applications, address cover letters to Melissa Forshey Schwind, Director of Attorney Talent.
- For questions regarding the application process, contact Melissa Forshey Schwind.
The law firm conducts campus interviews at several North Carolina law schools to identify qualified candidates. Callback interviews are held in Raleigh and include interviews and social activities with attorneys from all five offices, providing candidates a realistic view of life at the law firm.
The Summer Associate Program is a critical component of the firm's recruiting and hiring, running from mid-May to the end of June, with the Raleigh office as the home base.
