Williams Mullen invites both first- and second-year law students to participate in its summer associate program. The program serves multiple objectives. First and foremost, it offers students the opportunity to work with as many different attorneys in as many practice areas as time permits. In every rotation, a summer clerk is assigned to a new supervising attorney, who coordinates work assignments. This rotation system allows prospective associates and the firm’s attorneys a chance to get to know and evaluate each other.

Second, the summer associate program is designed to provide each student with a valuable educational experience that focuses on the practical, rather than the theoretical, aspects of law. In addition to undertaking research projects on a variety of pending matters, summer clerks are given the opportunity to participate in or observe conferences with clients or witnesses, trials and hearings, depositions, negotiations, real estate closings and the drafting of pleadings and other documents. Williams Mullen also schedules weekly in-house seminars on each of the firm’s practice areas.

Finally, summer clerks are given the opportunity to get to know the firm’s attorneys on a more personal basis. Throughout the summer, the firm schedules dinner parties, cook-outs and other events, which allow attorneys and students time to relax and socialize away from the office.

The summer associate program is an integral part of Williams Mullen’s recruitment effort. The firm looks first to those students in its summer program to fill its employment needs. The success of the program is evidenced by the number of summer clerks who are now members of the Williams Mullen team.