Summer Associate Recruiting
We are now accepting applications for 2009 Summer Associates. Please refer to current openings for positions available.
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"You’re given a lot of responsibility, but you’re not micromanaged." ~ Scott Mikkelsen, Summer Associate 2004, Associate 2006 |
Each year, the Firm hires first and second year law students as summer associates. The summer associate program serves as the Firm’s primary source of new associate attorneys. Therefore, a considerable amount of resources are devoted to the program. Summer associate compensation is $1,400 per week.
Summer associates assist shareholders and associates on challenging, sophisticated and complex cases and transactions. Shareholders and associates involve summer associates with client meetings, depositions and court appearances, as well as arbitration and mediation sessions. Summer associates also gain experience and contribute to the community through working on pro bono projects.
To assist summer associates with the transition from the classroom to the law office, each summer associate is assigned a mentor who monitors workflow, acts as a sounding board and offers advice. This informal training is supplemented with formal training sessions on matters relevant to the summer associates’ duties. Beyond orientation and training, activities for the 2008 summer associates include:
- Tour of the court house
- Lunches with Firm leaders (division and committee chairs, the Board of Directors, name partners)
- An Iowa Cubs picnic and game
- Participation in the annual Firm summer social
- Numerous informal socials with the associates
- An overview of bar exam content and scoring
- Presentation on legal ethics
- Presentation on Firm and legal marketing
Feedback for summer associates is regular and constructive. Shareholders and associates are strongly encouraged to submit written evaluations for each project assigned to a summer associate. These evaluations are then compiled, reviewed and discussed with each summer associate twice during the summer.
Finally, summer associates interact with everyone at the Firm and with members of the local legal community. To that end, summer associates are regularly invited to Firm events and all relevant state and local bar association functions.
We are currently accepting applications for 2009 candidates. Please refer to current openings for positions available.