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Law Firm
Summer Associate
Litigation - Foreclosure (Lender-side)
Summer Program Overview The summer program is about you and how your goals fit into the Akin Gump story. Each day brings new opportunities to learn about the law, to grow professionally and to form lasting relationships with colleagues. What You Need To Know Legal Assignments “The most rewarding experience was getting to see work product start to finish, when I knew that it was actually helpful and being used in some way. It showed that I was getting the opportunity to do ‘real work’ and motivated me to make sure that my work product was the best it could be.” –Dallas summer associate We afford our summer associates the unique opportunity of customizing their assignments based on their particular interests and the availability of work in those areas. Unlike other large firms, we do not put our summer associates through a formal rotation process. We want our summer associates to get as much out of this experience as possible, and we believe that allowing them considerable discretion in choosing the type of work they receive helps to facilitate their individual and professional growth. Their development is furthered by regular meetings throughout the summer with their mentors, advisors and attorneys with whom they have worked for the purpose of receiving feedback on their work. During the summer program, assigning partners or work coordinators oversee the work assignment process. This ensures that summer associates receive the proper amount and variety of work. There is a wide variety of assignments available to summer associates. Some of the projects on which our summer associates worked in the past included: * reviewing and synthesizing complex contracts in connection with the negotiation of a $1.7 billion credit facility and preparation of a memorandum for presentation to the client analyzing the results of such review * working on diligence, documentation and submission of a bid by a private equity investor for the purchase of a new portfolio company, including attendance at client meetings and presentations, review of agreements and management of certain aspects of bid submission process * preparing a client for an interview by the SEC and assisting with document production and drafting of a follow up memo and research * drafting a memo on the scope of liability of a popular chemical compound that has been determined to be carcinogenic * researching the extent of damages that a jury could reasonably award a well-known public figure for reputational damages * analyzing and reviewing a motion filed in a major bankruptcy proceeding and providing a memo to be distributed to the client * researching and drafting a memo for a summary judgment brief for a large public company, involving claims of racial discrimination, malicious prosecution and conspiracy * preparing license agreements arising out of sublease arrangements for a hedge fund client * preparing special exceptions regarding plaintiffs’ claim in a toxic tort case * interviewing witnesses for a death penalty case. “Through a balanced mix of work assignments and social events, I was acquainted with the diverse personalities at the firm. Through real work assignments from day one of the summer program, I developed professional relationships with attorneys at all levels, and those relationships grew organically during social activities.” —Houston summer associate Special Opportunities One of the most rewarding aspects of being a lawyer can be the excitement of appearing in court or meeting with clients and finding solutions to their problems. We want our summer associates to share those same exciting experiences. To that end, outside of their normal assignments, we offer special opportunities to attend depositions, hearings, witness interviews and client meetings. Special opportunities become available as a result of our lawyers’ willingness to share their workdays with summer associates. Their active participation is evidence of our firmwide commitment to making the summer experience as valuable as possible. Recent summer associate assignments and out-of-office opportunities include: * traveling to Argentina to meet with clients to review, translate and summarize corporate documents * attending a bargaining session for a collective bargaining agreement * observing a client’s shareholders meeting * attending a deposition and subsequent arbitral hearing * attending and reporting on a Senate Committee meeting * attending a critical hearing in the confirmation of a cross-border bankruptcy case * attending and reporting on an international trade organization meeting. Doing Good - Pro Bono Pro bono is fundamental to Akin Gump. As an integral part of our summer program, the firm has a Summer Pro Bono Program that is specifically tailored to summer associates. Taking advantage of our relationships with numerous legal services organizations, Akin Gump identifies and accepts pro bono projects that are well suited to the interests and talents of our summer associates. The assignments are geared to maximize front-line responsibility on the part of the summer associates while ensuring that they receive appropriate supervision from experienced attorneys. Through this unique program, recent summer associates gained invaluable experience and some notable victories for pro bono clients, including: * assisting with analysis of critical issues in terrorism cases for a white paper on prosecuting terrorism defendants in U.S. courts * drafting a political asylum application for a foreign scholar at risk of persecution in his home country * assisting in drafting a brief on the merits of a Supreme Court case addressing prosecutorial immunity * representing women in applying for legal status under the Violence Against Women Act * representing asylum seekers through the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project. In addition, Akin Gump has a Pro Bono Scholars Program that is intended to be a two-year program for top law school students who show a strong interest in making pro bono an integral part of their Akin Gump careers. The Pro Bono Scholars (rising second year law school students) work with public interest organizations before joining the firm for several weeks at the end of the first summer. During the second summer, the Pro Bono Scholars are part of the firm’s regular summer associate program. Click here for more information about the Pro Bono Scholars Program. Training and Development In addition to work assignments, we provide our summer associates with development and training opportunities throughout the summer. Summer associates attend legal writing workshops, pro bono training, panel discussions and meet-the-section presentations. All sessions are designed to enhance summer associates’ legal career and experience at the firm. “The summer associate training programs and departmental lunches were extremely useful. The training programs really gave us a sense of how our discrete projects fit into a bigger picture and gave us a chance to experiment with presentation/negotiation styles and techniques. The departmental meetings gave us a real, honest account of life in the department and the status of its work and goals.” —New York summer associate Click here for additional details on the firm’s attorney development program. Mentoring There is no shortage of mentors at Akin Gump. Each summer associate is assigned several attorney mentors to oversee his/her workload and development throughout the summer and to help facilitate the summer associate’s social interaction and integration into the firm. We try to match the attorneys and summer associates based on practice areas, law schools, similar backgrounds and/or experiences. Feedback and Evaluations Akin Gump takes a proactive approach to ensure that summer associates succeed. Each project a summer associate works on is evaluated by the attorneys who supervised the assignment. In addition, summer associates have two formal evaluations during the summer: a midpoint and final review. In these evaluations, each summer associate has the opportunity to discuss his/her work assignments, progress and experience. Getting to Know Us “The summer events were a great opportunity to get to know what firm lawyers’ lives are like outside of their work. While I found that many Akin lawyers have an intensity and passion for their work in the office, many are equally intense and passionate about their hobbies, communities and families. Some are foodies; some follow baseball religiously; others spend many out-of-office hours serving others. These things are easier to learn about a person over drinks or at a cooking class than in the office. I saw that Akin lawyers lead rich lives outside of work during these events.” —DC summer associate Not only do we want to see what kind of legal work you can do, we also want to get to know you. We know that you want to get to know us too, and, with that in mind, we make it a priority to offer many opportunities to meet attorneys at the firm. We plan our summer associate events to include something for everyone. In addition to weekly events, attorneys and summer associates get together for a variety of impromptu gatherings, and our summer associates are valuable additions to our many attorney sports teams. We encourage our summer associates to attend our departmental breakfasts and lunches so that they can meet attorneys in all of our departments, as well as learn more about particular practice groups. Past events include: * sailing trips * interactive cooking classes * concerts * Broadway shows * movie nights * community service projects * sporting events * dinners at lawyers’ homes * diversity events. Click here for FAQs from each of Akin’s offices hosting summer programs in 2013. Philadelphia Philadelphia Summer Program FAQs Q: How many summer associates does the Philadelphia office expect to hire in 2014? A: We are looking for one summer associate for our 2014 summer program. Q: Where does our 2013 summer associate attend law school? A: Cornell University. Q: What law schools does Akin Gump’s Philadelphia office visit for on-campus interviews? A: In 2013, we will visit the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program. The Philadelphia office is also represented by interviewers from our other offices at various campuses during OCI. We also conduct resume drops at Rutgers, Temple and Villanova; review the resumes of write-in applicants; and consider students who do not attend schools at which we interview on-campus. Q: Do you hire 1Ls for your summer program? A: We hire 1Ls on a case-by-case basis. Q: Does the Philadelphia office allow split summers? A: Although we encourage students to spend the entire summer program with us, we do consider split summers on a case-by-case basis. Q: How long after a candidate interviews in the Philadelphia office should he/she expect a hiring decision? A: Decisions are made in a timely manner. Candidates who receive an offer will be notified by phone and letter. Q: Do I have to choose a particular practice area at the beginning of the summer? A: Yes. Summer associates in the Philadelphia office are hired to work with the intellectual property practice. Q: What if I am unsure of the area in which I would like to practice? A: The Philadelphia office hires summer associates for its intellectual property practice only. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP’s employment practices are practiced without regard to applicants’ age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability unrelated to the job to be performed or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law. Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship In furtherance of the steadfast commitment of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP to diversity and inclusion, as well as the firm’s ongoing efforts to recruit, retain and promote attorneys who contribute to the diversity of the firm and the legal profession, the firm is pleased to offer the Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship (the “Strauss Scholarship”). Akin Gump and the firm’s founding partner, Robert Strauss, recognize that a workforce comprised of attorneys and staff from diverse social, racial, economic and cultural backgrounds is an important component in providing outstanding client service. The firm is continually seeking candidates who demonstrate excellence and who can bring diverse viewpoints and experiences to the firm and we have developed the Strauss Scholarship to advance this effort. Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship program overview The Strauss Scholarship provides a $25,000 scholarship for each of two outstanding second year law students at U.S. law schools to offset expenses for their third year of law school. The scholarships will be awarded to students who evidence their commitment to diversity in the legal profession, who demonstrate excellence and who can bring diverse viewpoints and experiences to the firm. In addition to the financial award, the scholarships also provide mentoring from firm attorneys and a paid second year Summer Associate position in the firm’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices. Selection Criteria Applicants must have excellent undergraduate and law school academic performance and evidence of leadership abilities, personal and professional accomplishments, and a demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity. Akin Gump seeks candidates who will thrive in meeting the firm’s core competencies: Ownership, Professional Excellence, Service & Teamwork and Client Focus; and who have demonstrated evidence of the firm’s core values: Collegiality, Commitment, Excellence, Integrity and Intensity. Eligibility To be eligible to be considered for the Strauss Scholarship, applicants must be enrolled in and in good standing at an ABA accredited law school with an anticipated graduation date of 2015 at the time of application. In order to receive the scholarship, recipients must participate in and complete the firm’s summer associate program following their second year of law school. Applicants may not be the recipient of a similar diversity award from another law firm. The first half of the scholarship will be paid upon successful completion of the firm’s summer associate program. The second half of the scholarship will be paid prior to the second semester of the student’s third year of law school, provided that they have received and accepted an offer to join the firm as an associate following the completion of their legal education. Application Process Law students interested in the Diversity Scholarship Fellows Program must submit the following materials in order to be considered: * A completed application form (stating office preference), current resume and law school transcript * A personal statement (no more than 750 words) describing the applicant’s demonstrated academic and leadership achievements and commitment to diversity * A legal writing sample * Contact information for three academic or professional references Applications for the program will be accepted, and considered on a rolling basis, between August 7, 2013 and September 13, 2013. Candidates may apply to, and be considered by, only one Akin Gump office. Questions To access the application for the Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship, please click here. Recruiting Process At Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, you will find a vibrant environment that embraces progress, forward thinking and creativity. The world is not slowing down, and neither are we. The coming years hold the promise of exciting new opportunities, and we are seeking talented students interested in shaping our future and stretching their capabilities. If you want to be part of a great law firm, where respect is paramount and every person can make a positive difference, we encourage you to learn more. Recruiting Calendar/Campus Interviews Title Date American University Aug 12 2013 Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Aug 8 2013 The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law Aug 26 2013 Columbia Law School Aug 13 2013 Cornell University Law School New York Job Fair Aug 6 2013 The George Washington University Law School Aug 13 2013 Georgetown University Law Center Aug 13 2013 Harvard Law School Aug 16 2013 Howard University School of Law Aug 16 2013 Loyola PLIP Aug 1 2013 New York University School of Law Aug 14 2013 On Tour Interview Program Aug 6 2013 SMU Dedman School of Law Aug 12 2013 SMU Dedman School of Law – Houston Interview Program Aug 8 2013 Stanford Law School Aug 21 2013 Sunbelt Minority Recruitment Program Aug 23 2013 UCLA School of Law Aug 6 2013 University of California Berkeley School of Law Aug 7 2013 University of Houston Law Center Aug 19 2013 University of Michigan Law School Aug 20 2013 University of Pennsylvania Law School Aug 12 2013 University of Southern California School of Law Aug 5 2013 University of Texas School of Law Aug 15 2013 University of Texas School of Law New York Job Fair Aug 1 2013 University of Virginia School of Law Aug 14 2013 Application Information Are you ready to move the story of your legal career forward? Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP seeks to hire students who match our drive and commitment, who augment our strengths with their own and who share our desire to reap professional rewards and enjoy themselves in the process. Hiring Criteria Akin Gump seeks exceptional students who will have completed their second year of law school upon the start of our summer programs. We look for students with outstanding academic credentials, law review or journal membership, moot court experience, previous work experience, excellent interpersonal skills, adherence to the firm’s core values and evidence of the firm’s core competencies. Interview and Hiring Process Akin Gump interviews the best and brightest law school students for its summer programs, and the majority of students are hired from the over 20 law schools around the country at which we recruit. Our summer associate programs are primarily made up of students who have completed two years of law school. Most of our summer associate candidates are met on campus by an attorney from the firm, and a number of students will be called back to the office to meet additional attorneys. Hiring and offer decisions are made by the hiring committees in each office. Interested students who do not attend one of the schools at which we recruit and those students who have completed their first year of law school may submit a cover letter, resume and transcript to the appropriate recruiting contact in the office of interest. We anticipate filling the majority of our first year associate openings with those who have participated in our summer programs, but occasionally interview 3Ls to supplement the class. Third year law students may submit cover letters, resumes and transcripts accordingly. Contact As a preeminent global law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP owes its success to the individual strengths of all who make up the firm. The firm is wholly committed to providing the resources students need to perform at the highest level throughout the summer program and as they begin their careers at the firm. Akin Gump provides summer associates and incoming first year associates with market-competitive compensation and other outstanding benefits, including the following: * market-competitive salaries ($3,077 per week for summer associates and $160,000 annually for first year associates) * smartphone * travel reimbursement to and from the firm to start summer program employment and return to law school * bar exam fee and study course reimbursement * paid moving expenses * Benefits may vary by office; offices outside the United States follow the laws and regulations of the individual countries in which the offices are located and may differ from the above. * The firm also offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to its attorneys. For a complete list of these benefits, please click here. Compensation & Benefits Recognizing that we all have responsibilities at work and home, Akin Gump offers an array of life-enhancing benefits designed to help our attorneys perform at the highest level on both fronts. We provide a competitive compensation structure and extensive health, welfare and retirement benefits.
Summer Program Overview
The summer program is about you and how your goals fit into the Akin Gump story. Each day brings new opportunities to learn about the law, to grow professionally and to form lasting relationships with colleagues. What You Need To Know
Legal Assignments
“The most rewarding experience was getting to see work product start to finish, when I knew that it was actually helpful and being used in some way. It showed that I was getting the opportunity to do ‘real work’ and motivated me to make sure that my work product was the best it could be.” –Dallas summer associate
We afford our summer associates the unique opportunity of customizing their assignments based on their particular interests and the availability of work in those areas. Unlike other large firms, we do not put our summer associates through a formal rotation process. We want our summer associates to get as much out of this experience as possible, and we believe that allowing them considerable discretion in choosing the type of work they receive helps to facilitate their individual and professional growth. Their development is furthered by regular meetings throughout the summer with their mentors, advisors and attorneys with whom they have worked for the purpose of receiving feedback on their work. During the summer program, assigning partners or work coordinators oversee the work assignment process. This ensures that summer associates receive the proper amount and variety of work.
There is a wide variety of assignments available to summer associates. Some of the projects on which our summer associates worked in the past included:
* reviewing and synthesizing complex contracts in connection with the negotiation of a $1.7 billion credit facility and preparation of a memorandum for presentation to the client analyzing the results of such review * working on diligence, documentation and submission of a bid by a private equity investor for the purchase of a new portfolio company, including attendance at client meetings and presentations, review of agreements and management of certain aspects of bid submission process * preparing a client for an interview by the SEC and assisting with document production and drafting of a follow up memo and research * drafting a memo on the scope of liability of a popular chemical compound that has been determined to be carcinogenic * researching the extent of damages that a jury could reasonably award a well-known public figure for reputational damages * analyzing and reviewing a motion filed in a major bankruptcy proceeding and providing a memo to be distributed to the client * researching and drafting a memo for a summary judgment brief for a large public company, involving claims of racial discrimination, malicious prosecution and conspiracy * preparing license agreements arising out of sublease arrangements for a hedge fund client * preparing special exceptions regarding plaintiffs’ claim in a toxic tort case * interviewing witnesses for a death penalty case.
“Through a balanced mix of work assignments and social events, I was acquainted with the diverse personalities at the firm. Through real work assignments from day one of the summer program, I developed professional relationships with attorneys at all levels, and those relationships grew organically during social activities.” —Houston summer associate Special Opportunities
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a lawyer can be the excitement of appearing in court or meeting with clients and finding solutions to their problems. We want our summer associates to share those same exciting experiences. To that end, outside of their normal assignments, we offer special opportunities to attend depositions, hearings, witness interviews and client meetings. Special opportunities become available as a result of our lawyers’ willingness to share their workdays with summer associates. Their active participation is evidence of our firmwide commitment to making the summer experience as valuable as possible.
Recent summer associate assignments and out-of-office opportunities include:
* traveling to Argentina to meet with clients to review, translate and summarize corporate documents * attending a bargaining session for a collective bargaining agreement * observing a client’s shareholders meeting * attending a deposition and subsequent arbitral hearing * attending and reporting on a Senate Committee meeting * attending a critical hearing in the confirmation of a cross-border bankruptcy case * attending and reporting on an international trade organization meeting.
Doing Good - Pro Bono
Pro bono is fundamental to Akin Gump. As an integral part of our summer program, the firm has a Summer Pro Bono Program that is specifically tailored to summer associates. Taking advantage of our relationships with numerous legal services organizations, Akin Gump identifies and accepts pro bono projects that are well suited to the interests and talents of our summer associates. The assignments are geared to maximize front-line responsibility on the part of the summer associates while ensuring that they receive appropriate supervision from experienced attorneys. Through this unique program, recent summer associates gained invaluable experience and some notable victories for pro bono clients, including:
* assisting with analysis of critical issues in terrorism cases for a white paper on prosecuting terrorism defendants in U.S. courts * drafting a political asylum application for a foreign scholar at risk of persecution in his home country * assisting in drafting a brief on the merits of a Supreme Court case addressing prosecutorial immunity * representing women in applying for legal status under the Violence Against Women Act * representing asylum seekers through the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project.
In addition, Akin Gump has a Pro Bono Scholars Program that is intended to be a two-year program for top law school students who show a strong interest in making pro bono an integral part of their Akin Gump careers. The Pro Bono Scholars (rising second year law school students) work with public interest organizations before joining the firm for several weeks at the end of the first summer. During the second summer, the Pro Bono Scholars are part of the firm’s regular summer associate program.
Click here for more information about the Pro Bono Scholars Program.
Training and Development
In addition to work assignments, we provide our summer associates with development and training opportunities throughout the summer. Summer associates attend legal writing workshops, pro bono training, panel discussions and meet-the-section presentations. All sessions are designed to enhance summer associates’ legal career and experience at the firm.
“The summer associate training programs and departmental lunches were extremely useful. The training programs really gave us a sense of how our discrete projects fit into a bigger picture and gave us a chance to experiment with presentation/negotiation styles and techniques. The departmental meetings gave us a real, honest account of life in the department and the status of its work and goals.” —New York summer associate
Click here for additional details on the firm’s attorney development program. Mentoring
There is no shortage of mentors at Akin Gump. Each summer associate is assigned several attorney mentors to oversee his/her workload and development throughout the summer and to help facilitate the summer associate’s social interaction and integration into the firm. We try to match the attorneys and summer associates based on practice areas, law schools, similar backgrounds and/or experiences. Feedback and Evaluations
Akin Gump takes a proactive approach to ensure that summer associates succeed. Each project a summer associate works on is evaluated by the attorneys who supervised the assignment. In addition, summer associates have two formal evaluations during the summer: a midpoint and final review. In these evaluations, each summer associate has the opportunity to discuss his/her work assignments, progress and experience.
Getting to Know Us
“The summer events were a great opportunity to get to know what firm lawyers’ lives are like outside of their work. While I found that many Akin lawyers have an intensity and passion for their work in the office, many are equally intense and passionate about their hobbies, communities and families. Some are foodies; some follow baseball religiously; others spend many out-of-office hours serving others. These things are easier to learn about a person over drinks or at a cooking class than in the office. I saw that Akin lawyers lead rich lives outside of work during these events.” —DC summer associate
Not only do we want to see what kind of legal work you can do, we also want to get to know you. We know that you want to get to know us too, and, with that in mind, we make it a priority to offer many opportunities to meet attorneys at the firm. We plan our summer associate events to include something for everyone. In addition to weekly events, attorneys and summer associates get together for a variety of impromptu gatherings, and our summer associates are valuable additions to our many attorney sports teams. We encourage our summer associates to attend our departmental breakfasts and lunches so that they can meet attorneys in all of our departments, as well as learn more about particular practice groups.
Past events include:
* sailing trips * interactive cooking classes * concerts * Broadway shows * movie nights * community service projects * sporting events * dinners at lawyers’ homes * diversity events.
Click here for FAQs from each of Akin’s offices hosting summer programs in 2013.
Philadelphia Philadelphia Summer Program FAQs
Q: How many summer associates does the Philadelphia office expect to hire in 2014? A: We are looking for one summer associate for our 2014 summer program.
Q: Where does our 2013 summer associate attend law school? A: Cornell University.
Q: What law schools does Akin Gump’s Philadelphia office visit for on-campus interviews? A: In 2013, we will visit the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program. The Philadelphia office is also represented by interviewers from our other offices at various campuses during OCI. We also conduct resume drops at Rutgers, Temple and Villanova; review the resumes of write-in applicants; and consider students who do not attend schools at which we interview on-campus.
Q: Do you hire 1Ls for your summer program? A: We hire 1Ls on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Does the Philadelphia office allow split summers? A: Although we encourage students to spend the entire summer program with us, we do consider split summers on a case-by-case basis.
Q: How long after a candidate interviews in the Philadelphia office should he/she expect a hiring decision? A: Decisions are made in a timely manner. Candidates who receive an offer will be notified by phone and letter.
Q: Do I have to choose a particular practice area at the beginning of the summer? A: Yes. Summer associates in the Philadelphia office are hired to work with the intellectual property practice.
Q: What if I am unsure of the area in which I would like to practice? A: The Philadelphia office hires summer associates for its intellectual property practice only.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP’s employment practices are practiced without regard to applicants’ age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability unrelated to the job to be performed or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law.
Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship
In furtherance of the steadfast commitment of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP to diversity and inclusion, as well as the firm’s ongoing efforts to recruit, retain and promote attorneys who contribute to the diversity of the firm and the legal profession, the firm is pleased to offer the Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship (the “Strauss Scholarship”).
Akin Gump and the firm’s founding partner, Robert Strauss, recognize that a workforce comprised of attorneys and staff from diverse social, racial, economic and cultural backgrounds is an important component in providing outstanding client service. The firm is continually seeking candidates who demonstrate excellence and who can bring diverse viewpoints and experiences to the firm and we have developed the Strauss Scholarship to advance this effort.
Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship program overview
The Strauss Scholarship provides a $25,000 scholarship for each of two outstanding second year law students at U.S. law schools to offset expenses for their third year of law school. The scholarships will be awarded to students who evidence their commitment to diversity in the legal profession, who demonstrate excellence and who can bring diverse viewpoints and experiences to the firm. In addition to the financial award, the scholarships also provide mentoring from firm attorneys and a paid second year Summer Associate position in the firm’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices. Selection Criteria
Applicants must have excellent undergraduate and law school academic performance and evidence of leadership abilities, personal and professional accomplishments, and a demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity. Akin Gump seeks candidates who will thrive in meeting the firm’s core competencies: Ownership, Professional Excellence, Service & Teamwork and Client Focus; and who have demonstrated evidence of the firm’s core values: Collegiality, Commitment, Excellence, Integrity and Intensity. Eligibility
To be eligible to be considered for the Strauss Scholarship, applicants must be enrolled in and in good standing at an ABA accredited law school with an anticipated graduation date of 2015 at the time of application. In order to receive the scholarship, recipients must participate in and complete the firm’s summer associate program following their second year of law school. Applicants may not be the recipient of a similar diversity award from another law firm. The first half of the scholarship will be paid upon successful completion of the firm’s summer associate program. The second half of the scholarship will be paid prior to the second semester of the student’s third year of law school, provided that they have received and accepted an offer to join the firm as an associate following the completion of their legal education.
Application Process
Law students interested in the Diversity Scholarship Fellows Program must submit the following materials in order to be considered:
* A completed application form (stating office preference), current resume and law school transcript * A personal statement (no more than 750 words) describing the applicant’s demonstrated academic and leadership achievements and commitment to diversity * A legal writing sample * Contact information for three academic or professional references
Applications for the program will be accepted, and considered on a rolling basis, between August 7, 2013 and September 13, 2013. Candidates may apply to, and be considered by, only one Akin Gump office.
Questions
To access the application for the Akin Gump Robert Strauss Diversity Scholarship, please click here. Recruiting Process
At Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, you will find a vibrant environment that embraces progress, forward thinking and creativity. The world is not slowing down, and neither are we. The coming years hold the promise of exciting new opportunities, and we are seeking talented students interested in shaping our future and stretching their capabilities.
If you want to be part of a great law firm, where respect is paramount and every person can make a positive difference, we encourage you to learn more. Recruiting Calendar/Campus Interviews
Title Date American University Aug 12 2013 Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Aug 8 2013 The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law Aug 26 2013 Columbia Law School Aug 13 2013 Cornell University Law School New York Job Fair Aug 6 2013 The George Washington University Law School Aug 13 2013 Georgetown University Law Center Aug 13 2013 Harvard Law School Aug 16 2013 Howard University School of Law Aug 16 2013 Loyola PLIP Aug 1 2013 New York University School of Law Aug 14 2013 On Tour Interview Program Aug 6 2013 SMU Dedman School of Law Aug 12 2013 SMU Dedman School of Law – Houston Interview Program Aug 8 2013 Stanford Law School Aug 21 2013 Sunbelt Minority Recruitment Program Aug 23 2013 UCLA School of Law Aug 6 2013 University of California Berkeley School of Law Aug 7 2013 University of Houston Law Center Aug 19 2013 University of Michigan Law School Aug 20 2013 University of Pennsylvania Law School Aug 12 2013 University of Southern California School of Law Aug 5 2013 University of Texas School of Law Aug 15 2013 University of Texas School of Law New York Job Fair Aug 1 2013 University of Virginia School of Law Aug 14 2013 Application Information Are you ready to move the story of your legal career forward? Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP seeks to hire students who match our drive and commitment, who augment our strengths with their own and who share our desire to reap professional rewards and enjoy themselves in the process. Hiring Criteria
Akin Gump seeks exceptional students who will have completed their second year of law school upon the start of our summer programs. We look for students with outstanding academic credentials, law review or journal membership, moot court experience, previous work experience, excellent interpersonal skills, adherence to the firm’s core values and evidence of the firm’s core competencies. Interview and Hiring Process
Akin Gump interviews the best and brightest law school students for its summer programs, and the majority of students are hired from the over 20 law schools around the country at which we recruit. Our summer associate programs are primarily made up of students who have completed two years of law school. Most of our summer associate candidates are met on campus by an attorney from the firm, and a number of students will be called back to the office to meet additional attorneys. Hiring and offer decisions are made by the hiring committees in each office. Interested students who do not attend one of the schools at which we recruit and those students who have completed their first year of law school may submit a cover letter, resume and transcript to the appropriate recruiting contact in the office of interest. We anticipate filling the majority of our first year associate openings with those who have participated in our summer programs, but occasionally interview 3Ls to supplement the class. Third year law students may submit cover letters, resumes and transcripts accordingly. Contact
As a preeminent global law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP owes its success to the individual strengths of all who make up the firm. The firm is wholly committed to providing the resources students need to perform at the highest level throughout the summer program and as they begin their careers at the firm.
Akin Gump provides summer associates and incoming first year associates with market-competitive compensation and other outstanding benefits, including the following:
* market-competitive salaries ($3,077 per week for summer associates and $160,000 annually for first year associates) * smartphone * travel reimbursement to and from the firm to start summer program employment and return to law school * bar exam fee and study course reimbursement * paid moving expenses * Benefits may vary by office; offices outside the United States follow the laws and regulations of the individual countries in which the offices are located and may differ from the above. * The firm also offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to its attorneys. For a complete list of these benefits, please click here.
Compensation & Benefits
Recognizing that we all have responsibilities at work and home, Akin Gump offers an array of life-enhancing benefits designed to help our attorneys perform at the highest level on both fronts. We provide a competitive compensation structure and extensive health, welfare and retirement benefits.
Sign Up Now
Our philosophy on diversity can be summed up in one word: commitment. At Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, we strive to create a culture of inclusiveness, one open to differences in people, backgrounds and ideas. We recognize that, in today’s global marketplace, it is imperative to have a work force that reflects the diversity of our world.