Wyche is a different kind of firm marked by a different hiring process. We focus on only bringing in associates we expect to become members, and we help them develop as attorneys. The result is a collegial environment that rewards leadership, innovation, and excellence.
We evaluate candidates for the summer program intensely because we want to identify law students to whom we will eventually offer permanent associate positions. We view each of our summer clerks as a potential colleague, and so we try to identify students who will make good lawyers here. Our criteria include:
The summer work assignments involve real work on real matters. Summer associates frequently attend depositions, help prepare for trials, go to court, assist with closings, research federal and state law, draft documents—all under the guidance of a seasoned attorney. We want to know, and we want each summer associate to know, just how much he or she really likes the law and what areas of practice are interesting to him or her. We make every effort to expose summer associates to all the practice areas in our firm. In the practice of law, you can’t know what you like until you try it.
We encourage all summer associates—especially first-year students—to split their summers between two legal employers. We believe it is important for students to experience a variety of law practices and firm cultures before they finish law school and make a permanent decision about where they will practice and what kind of law they will pursue. We require that summer associates spend a minimum of four weeks with us.
In summary, the summer program reflects the culture of the firm. We work hard and smart, we like where we live and we take advantage of the wealth of recreation and culture that is available to us. And, of great importance, we like and respect each other.
