An Interview with Managing Partner Guy Halgren.

Summer Associate Program: What to Expect

Sheppard Mullin places a major emphasis on its Summer Associate Program as the primary vehicle to assimilate high-achieving law students from diverse backgrounds into the firm.  It is designed to acquaint students with the firm's practice through hands-on work experience, and with the lawyers in the firm through a range of social activities.  In other words, our Summer Associate Program is an opportunity to get to know each other.  

We structure our Summer Associate Program to give law students a realistic view of the way we practice throughout the year. Our summer associates do meaningful, billable work and work closely with partners and associates in various practice groups. In the past, our summer associates have drafted briefs and other pleadings, credit agreements, acquisition agreements and other significant legal documents. The allocation of assignments is intended to expose each student to a variety of legal problems and to a number of attorneys within the office. Summer associates also attend depositions and court appearances, and work on pro bono projects with supervising attorneys. Our attorneys are urged to provide feedback to summer associates when a project has been completed, and each student receives a mid-summer review.

The cornerstone training event in the Sheppard Mullin summer program is a good indication of our firm's commitment to associate development.  The firm gives all summer associates the choice of  participating in either our two-week Trial Advocacy Program (TAP) for future litigators or our week-long Business Law Training (BLT) program for those who prefer a transactional course.  In each of these programs, partners and associates in the firm guide summer associates through an intensive simulation of our firm's practice.  Participants in TAP bring a case to trial, culminating in closing argument before a real judge, with explanation and evaluation of each step by veteran lawyers.  BLT participants negotiate and draft documents for a corporate financing transaction--and celebrate with a closing dinner!

Another summer highlight is the "weekend away" for summer associates from all offices.  In 2008, this event is being held in Las Vegas.  The social and orientation activities include a morning session with members of the firm's Executive Committee to discuss "the state of the firm" and associate training and development at Sheppard Mullin.  Our weekend retreat, coupled with our training programs, gives students throughout our offices a real opportunity to get to know one another and make connections to last throughout their legal career.

Social and Cultural Activities

The purpose of our Summer Associate Program is to hire students who will return to Sheppard Mullin as associates and form a lasting bond with our firm. Toward that end, we provide our summer associates with opportunities to become well acquainted with the partners and associates in the office, and with the cultural resources of the region in which the office is located. Events in our various offices during the past few summers have included beach parties, go-kart racing, white-water rafting, sailing, scavenger hunts, horse races at Del Mar, paintball, a wine-tasting day-trip and cooking classes.  Summer associates are invited to cocktail parties and dinner parties at attorneys' homes, giving them a perspective on the lives of our lawyers outside the office. Summer associates also attend cultural and sporting events, including the Hollywood Bowl, California Shakespeare Theater, and major league baseball games.

By the end of your summer, you will have had the quintessential summer associate experience.  We will do everything we can to give you a strong understanding of the personality of the office, the nature and quality of the firm’s work, the attitude of the firm towards associate development, and the benefits of starting your career at Sheppard Mullin.