We recruit students for our Phoenix and Las Vegas offices from around the country to join us for the summer. We look for diversity, creativity, leadership, character, and good judgment. Excellent writing skills are essential and will be further honed by working on challenging projects throughout the summer.
Split Policy
We strongly prefer that Summer Associates spend the entire summer at the firm. If you are splitting with another firm, we require you to spend the first half of the summer with us. We do not allow second-half splits. Our experience indicates that at least seven weeks is necessary for a Summer Associate to take advantage of our summer program and to participate fully in firm activities.
Advisors and Mentors
Mentoring is ingrained in Lewis and Roca’s culture and our mentoring system is designed to ensure that your summer is successful. When Summer Associates arrive at the firm, they are assigned both a Mentor and a Reader, who may be a partner or senior associate. The Mentor's role is to assist the Summer Associate’s integration into the firm, including introduction to lawyers through lunches and social activities, as well as to answer any questions or concerns that arise over the summer. The Reader's role is to review the Summer Associate’s completed written projects and provide constructive feedback to help improve writing skills.
Work Assignments
Summer Associates can express a preference to receive assignments from particular practice areas. Although we make every effort to accommodate their interests, we encourage Summer Associates to work on projects from a variety of practice areas during the summer. We believe that this experience will better acquaint you with the range of our practices. It also enables you, by the conclusion of the summer with us, to have a better idea of which practice areas interest you for your future career.
Our goal is to offer intellectually stimulating projects that give Summer Associates an opportunity to demonstrate their writing, analytical, and advocacy skills. To accomplish this, your Work Assignment Coordinator will help you ensure a balance of assignments – a few from areas you are already interested in, and a few from new areas.
The type of work we provide to Summer Associates is similar in complexity to assignments given to new associates and can range from a simple litigation research memorandum to assisting a partner at a complex real estate closing. Additionally, we invite Summer Associates to learn through observation and participation by joining our lawyers at client meetings, closings, negotiating sessions and court appearances – anywhere that will provide insight into our practice and what it is like to be a lawyer at Lewis and Roca.
Training (In and Out of the Office)
All Summer Associates spend the first two weeks of the summer participating in the Summer Training Academy in Phoenix. During the Academy, summer associates hone their research and writing skills, learn more about the firm, and learn other valuable practice skills, so that they are ready to hit the ground running with their first assignments.
In addition, all Summer Associates are given opportunities to accompany lawyers to hearings, oral arguments, depositions, on-site client meetings and court tours. By the end of your summer experience, you will know what it's like to practice law at Lewis and Roca.
Reviews and Evaluations
The lawyers with whom Summer Associates work give candid and constructive feedback informally throughout the summer. In addition, Summer Associates receive a more formal mid-point and exit review. The mid-point review helps Summer Associates gauge their progress at the firm and identify any areas that need attention before the end of the program. The exit review is an evaluation of the Summer Associate’s performance during the entire program, and it establishes a benchmark for offer decisions. The mid-point and exit reviews also give Summer Associates opportunities to provide the Summer Program Chair with feedback on their summer experiences at Lewis and Roca.
Offer Decisions
Our summer program is our primary recruitment source for new associates. Offer decisions are made at the conclusion of the summer program.
Travel Reimbursement
We reimburse Summer Associate’s reasonable travel expenses (from law school to our office) at the beginning and end of the summer.