The Summer Associate Program at Wyche has two goals: to introduce law students to the real-world practice of law, and to begin to build relationships with young lawyers who we hope will become our colleagues. To achieve these ends, we interweave genuine legal work with relaxed social events that emphasize getting to know our firm and one another.
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.
Collegiality is one of the hallmarks of our firm. We value one another’s company, and our lawyers pursue a wide variety of interests. During the summer, we share this sense of community with our summer associates through a mix of outdoor activities, recreational sports, and cultural events. From group hikes, boating, and tennis to evenings at local music venues, theaters, and art exhibits, there are always opportunities to connect, relax, and enjoy the vibrant surroundings while building lasting relationships.
