Summer Program

Summer associates are exposed to a variety of work throughout the summer. Consistent with practice-area interests, they may work on corporate deals, project finance transactions, commercial, insurance or products liability litigations, employment law and intellectual property matters. Through hands-on work and by "shadowing" Chadbourne attorneys, associates experience all aspects of legal work. The objective of our training, mentoring and professional development programs is to give these associates solid skills in negotiating, drafting, researching, performing legal analysis, strategizing and developing business. Whenever possible, they are invited to work directly with our clients, attend court proceedings and participate in conference calls.

In addition to "billable" client work, we encourage associates to work on pro bono assignments through formalized city-wide programs and our own cases. In 2006, our associates participated in The Sanctuary For Families Courtroom Advocacy Project, the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Clinic and the NYC Bar Seminar on Homelessness. They also had the opportunity to work on political asylum cases, IP matters (copyright, patent and trademark infringement), corporate governance and landlord/tenant disputes through the many other pro bono organizations that Chadbourne supports.

Three Levels of Mentoring

Our comprehensive mentoring process provides students with mentors at three different levels: partner, senior associate and junior associate. This not only gives them the opportunity to form a relationship with a partner, but also provides experience with different clients and industries. The senior associate provides guidance and feedback on work, while the junior associate helps with day to day office life.

Feedback is an important and on-going component of the summer experience. Associates receive informal feedback throughout the summer, with formal evaluations in late June and upon departure.

Practical Training and Workshops

Throughout the summer, both Chadbourne attorneys and outside professionals provide hands-on practical training and workshops. They cover such topics as deposition skills, the art of negotiation, due diligence procedures and how to draft contracts. Practice-area workshops features presentations by partners within specific practice areas to familiarize associates with Chadbourne's range of work. In addition to summer-specific training sessions, they are encouraged to participate in the firm's Business Development Series, which covers such topics as building professional relationships, marketing, communication skills and creating business plans.

Associates receive their assignments from the Assigning Committee. Each Committee member is responsible for a small core-group of associates, which ensures an individualized work experience. Assignments are customized based on interest, work load, familiarity with the subject and availability.

The Social Side of the Summer

Our program events provide good food, good fun and, most important, opportunities for our summer associates and attorneys to get to know one another. Chadbourne's New York office is located in Rockefeller Center, close to Fifth Avenue, Times Square, the theater district and the many other cultural and social opportunities New York City has to offer. In recent years, our social activities have included cooking classes in Tribeca, bicycle rides in Central Park, Broadway theatre nights, progressive dinners in Little Italy and trips to New York landmarks, like the legendary Apollo Theater and Top of the Rock. At Chadbourne, we work hard, we play hard and we want to enjoy both.

Most of the Firm's yearly entry-level class of lawyers are recruited through our summer program. Our "offer-accepted" rates are very high, demonstrating our commitment to our summer program, the strength of our practice and the vitality of our lawyers.

Other Opportunities

In the summer 2007, Chadbourne's DC office hosted two interns through a State Department program that enables young professional women from the Middle East and North Africa to work in U.S. companies and law firms. Interns from Qatar and Tunisia began working in Washington following a month-long LL.M.-level academic program at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. They came to Chadbourne through the Legal and Business Fellowship Program, part of the State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

How to Apply

Learn more about where and when Chadbourne is interviewing law students for our summer program, or get more information on applying.