Job Title: 2L Summer Associate
Job Responsibilities:
The 2L Summer Associate position at the law firm in Grand Rapids involves a comprehensive set of responsibilities designed to provide a robust legal experience. Summer associates will:
- Engage in a 10-week summer program, gaining exposure to various areas of law without being tied to specific practice groups. This allows candidates to select two or three primary areas of interest and explore assignments across different practice areas.
- Collaborate with driven lawyers and professionals within the firm and work directly with clients.
- Receive assignments through multiple channels, including an online portal where projects can be reviewed and selected based on personal interests. Attorneys will also connect with summer associates to assign tasks directly through emails, calls, or meetings.
- Participate in real-time feedback sessions for each assignment, focusing on aspects such as legal writing, research, communication, accuracy, timeliness, and analytical skills. Additionally, there will be midsummer and end-of-summer evaluation meetings for further insights and development.
- Take part in two days of orientation and training, followed by a multi-day Summer Associate Retreat in Indianapolis or Chicago with participants from all offices. There will also be biweekly educational video conferences on topics like time management, legal writing, and practice development.
- Be paired with a partner adviser and an associate adviser for mentoring. A networking budget is provided to foster informal mentoring and connections with other attorneys at the law firm.
- Have the opportunity to work on various pro bono projects offered by every office.
Education and Experience Information:
- Candidates must anticipate being a 2027 law school graduate to be eligible for the 2026 summer associate program.
- Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and a copy of their law school transcript (unofficial copies are acceptable).
Salary Information:
The salary for the 2L Summer Associate position is $3,350 weekly. Employees are eligible for paid time off and can make 401(k) pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan.
Additional Legal Requirements:
- This position may require handling export-controlled information. As such, US law stipulates that candidates need to be a permanent US resident or US citizen to manage such information.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:
The law firm is an Equal Opportunity Employer, ensuring all candidates are considered without discrimination.
Application Process:
Candidates identified to move forward in the interview process will be contacted directly to schedule an interview. If the firm does not recruit on campus at a candidate's law school, applications can be submitted through the firm's designated application portal.
