- How many Summer Associate were in the Firm’s 2008 Summer Program?
- How do I begin the process of becoming a summer Associate at your firm?
- What are the hiring criteria?
- What is the typical schedule for the in-office (callback) interviews?
- How long after a candidate completes his/her callback interviews should he/she expect a hiring decision?
- Will the Firm reimburse travel expenses associated with callback interviews?
- How long is the summer program?
- Does the Firm allow splits between Reed Smith offices?
- Does Reed Smith allow splits with other firms?
- Does Reed Smith help Summer Associates find housing?
- Are Summer Associates assigned to a particular practice group?
- What are the Firm’s minority recruitment efforts?
- Will I have an opportunity to work on pro bono matters?
- What type of work can I expect to receive as a Summer Associate?
- What training programs do you offer?
- Are Summer Associates provided insurance benefits?
- Will the Firm reimburse Summer Associates for travel expenses to/from school to participate in the Summer Program?
- When are offers for full-time associate positions communicated to Summer Associates?
- How many Summer Associates will receive offers to return as associates?
Q: How many Summer Associates were in the Firm’s 2008 Summer Program?
A:
| Firmwide | 87 | ||
| Chicago | 10 | Pittsburgh | 16 |
| Falls Church | 3 | Princeton | 1 |
| Los Angeles | 7 | San Francisco | 9 |
| New York | 12 | Washington, D.C. | 8 |
| Oakland | 4 | Wilmington | 1 |
| Philadelphia | 16 | ||
Q: How do I begin the process of becoming a Summer Associate at your firm?
A: Students at schools where we participate in on-campus interviews should submit resumes to their Career Services Office. Other students may submit resumes and transcripts by fax, mail or e-mail to the Recruiting Contact of the office in which they are interested.
Q: What are the hiring criteria?
A: We are seeking bright, well-rounded individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong critical thinking and writing skills. Ultimately, we are seeking talented students who have the potential to develop into exceptional attorneys. Throughout our search we weigh the following factors: exceptional academic achievement, participation in law school activities (law review, moot court, etc.), prior work experience, strong interpersonal skills and ties to the area.
Q: What is the typical schedule for the in-office (callback) interviews?
A: Callback interview schedules differ by office. Please contact the local Recruiting Contact for further details.
Q: How long after a candidate completes his/her callback interviews should he/she expect a hiring decision?
A: Candidates will be notified by phone and/or letter as soon as possible following his/her in-office interview.
Q: Will the Firm reimburse travel expenses associated with callback interviews for out-of-town students?
A: Yes. Reasonable travel expenses approved by the local Recruiting Contact will be reimbursed.
Q: How long is the summer program?
A: Our 2009 Summer Program dates will be finalized shortly.
Q: Does the Firm allow splits between Reed Smith offices?
A: Splitting summers between Reed Smith offices is strongly discouraged and, unless exceptional circumstances exist, is not allowed. A split summer generally does not permit enough time for the Summer Associate to become familiar with each office or for the attorneys and recruiting personnel in each office to become familiar with the Summer Associate and his/her work.
Q: Does Reed Smith allow splits with other firms?
A: For similar reasons, splitting between Reed Smith and another firm is not allowed (except for those who were Reed Smith Summer Associates after their first year; those students may split between Reed Smith and another firm after their second year if they commit to spending at least five weeks at Reed Smith that same summer).
Q: Does Reed Smith help Summer Associates find housing?
A: Yes. Each office's Recruiting Contact will forward summer housing information to those Summer Associates who seek assistance. Additional housing information may also be found on NALP’s website.
Q: Are Summer Associates assigned to a particular practice group?
A: No. Summer Associates are encouraged to work on assignments from a variety of practice groups. If a Summer Associate has an area of preference, every effort will be made to provide further exposure to that particular practice area.
Q: What are the Firm’s minority recruitment efforts?
A: We continuously explore ways to enhance the inclusiveness of our organization and consistently evaluate our own diversity efforts and work-life policies to ensure that they are in keeping with marketplace practices that have proven effective in achieving inclusiveness. We recognize that diversity at all levels of an organization is a true sign of a world-class business and we have made the recruitment, retention and promotion of women and diverse attorneys a top priority.
Q: Will I have an opportunity to work on pro bono matters?
A: Yes. We indeed ask all summer associates to do pro bono work in areas of pro bono legal service in which the firm participates.
Q: What type of work can I expect to receive as a summer associate?
A: Our goal is to provide summer associates with real work similar to what they would receive as a first or second year associate. We also provide the summers a chance to get involved with out-of-office experiences including: board meetings, depositions, arbitrations, client meetings, and judicial proceedings.
Q: What training programs do you offer to summer associates?
A: Summer associates are also invited to attend classes offered through Reed Smith University's Summer Academy. Some of the programs we offer are: Mergers and Acquisitions Simulation, Mediation Clinic, Legal Research and Writing programs, and a Timekeeping Seminar.
Q: Are Summer Associates provided insurance benefits?
A: The firm does not provide insurance or other benefits for summer associates or their dependents.
Q: Will the Firm reimburse Summer Associates for travel expenses to/from school to participate in the Summer Program?
A: This policy varies office-by-office. Consult your local Recruiting Contact.
Q: When are offers for full-time associate positions communicated to Summer Associates?
A: We evaluate all of our Summer Associates at the conclusion of the program. Associate offers are usually extended by September 1.
Q: How many Summer Associates will receive offers to return as associates?
A: It is our goal to make offers to all of our Summer Associates. Our summer program is not a competition. Summer Associates are evaluated according to their own performance based on the standards and criteria set by Reed Smith.