How many summer associates were in the Firm's 2008 Summer Program?

A total of 184 summer associates from 9 US offices participated in the Firm's 2008 Summer Associate Program.

Is it possible that the Firm will make offers to all summer associates?

It is always possible. The quality of the work completed by each individual in the summer program is carefully evaluated and used to determine who will receive an offer. In 2007, 99 percent of the summer class received an offer.

What criteria are used to evaluate summer associates and determine offer decisions?

The Firm considers the candidate's work product as well as the individual characteristics exhibited by each summer associate over the course of the summer. Research, writing and analytical ability, communication skills, organizational skills, reliability and thoroughness, motivation, initiative, judgment, interpersonal skills, integrity, confidence, imagination and ability to work as a team player are all considered in the evaluation process.

When are offers for full-time associate positions communicated to summer associates?

Offer decisions are communicated at the discretion of the office's Chair of Recruiting either upon an associate's exit from the summer program or after all the summer associates have departed. This year the summer program concluded throughout the Firm in mid-August.

Can 1 Ls apply for the summer program - If so, when is the best time to apply?

In accordance with NALP guidelines, first-year students may apply for summer associate positions after December 1.  It is always most advantageous to express this interest as early as possible.  In addition and after December 1, we host several receptions specifically targeted to 1Ls -- Home for the Holidays events scheduled in our various offices during the winter break and Cocktails and Conversation events during the early spring at various law schools. You can also send a letter of interest and your resume directly to the Attorney Recruiting Staff in the US office where you have an interest.  

For "first year summers" -- those working at the Firm following just one year of law school -- are offers made?

Yes. The firm usually makes offers for such individuals to return the summer after their second year. Those students must work for a minimum of 3 weeks the next summer before a regular full-time offer of employment can be made.

If given an offer, how long do summer associates have to make a decision?

The Firm adheres to NALP General Standards for the Timing of Offers and Decisions, which gives students until November 15 to make a decision.

How does the Firm handle credit and compensation for those who will come to the firm after completing a clerkship? a JD/MBA? a Ph.d?

Judicial clerks may be eligible to receive a bonus of $50,000 for one year clerkships and $70,000 for two year clerkships.  In addition to the clerkship bonus, judicial clerks may be eligible to receive one class year of credit for compensation purposes. Those clerking for the US Supreme Court will receive a competitive bonus and are eligible for appropriate class credit. Judicial clerks are further eligible to receive a generous Bar Study Benefit and Bonus to assist with Bar Exam preparation, review courses, and Bar application expenses. Please note that a clerkship bonus pursuant to this policy is available only to incoming new associates who join the firm directly after their judicial clerkship.  Please contact a member of the Attorney Recruiting Staff for more information about additional compensation and bonuses for former clerks.

Incoming, first year associates may also be eligible for a one-time $20,000 bonus upon completion of a JD/MBA or MBA degree.  Advance class credit not available. The bonus will be awarded upon commencement of employment at the Firm, either during the fall or spring of the candidate's first year. 

The Firm also may grant advance class credit and a recruiting bonus to new and lateral associates in the Intellectual Property Practice who have relevant Ph.D and/or relevant patent agent experience at various law firms and legal employers.  

What if a former summer associate has a clerkship and is unable to accept by the November 15 deadline?

A request for an extension should be made to the Firm.

Do summer associates have to pick a particular practice area at the beginning of the summer?

Summer associates do not commit to a specific practice area at the beginning of their summer. In fact, our summer program is designed to give each summer associate the opportunity to work in a variety of departments and practice areas throughout the summer.  

Can I split my summer between two Paul Hastings offices?

Any second year candidate interested in splitting their summer between two of our offices should discuss this with their attorney interviewer during the fall interview process.  A minimum of six weeks must be spent in each office. In special cases we may offer the opportunity to spend part of the summer in one of our International offices.  The summer associate will be expected to have the appropriate language skills. The Firm will provide round trip coach airfare from its US office to its International office. However, the summer associate will be responsible for his or her own housing costs, meals, and ground transportation during the overseas visit.  Additional compensation is not provided.  Participation must be determined and approved before the candidate begins the summer program.  First year associates are not eligible to split their summer with another law firm or Paul Hastings office. 

Can I split my summer at Paul Hastings with another law firm?

Summer associates with Paul Hastings, who are second year law students, may split their summer with another firm. We require that split summers spend the first 8 weeks at the Firm.  If you are considering this or are a returning summer associate, please speak with someone from the Attorney Recruiting and Development Staff to discuss your options.  First year law students are not eligible to split their summer with another law firm or another Paul Hastings office.

Will I have a chance to do pro bono work over the summer?

Each of our offices offers opportunities for summer associates to become involved in pro bono work. Those interested in doing such work should inquire about these opportunities with the designated work assignment coordinator. Also, the Firm offers a limited number of second year law students the ability to participate in our "Public Interest Split Program," where the first 8 weeks is spent at the Firm and the remaining 4 weeks of the Summer Program is spent working at a not-for-profit organization in the city in which you are clerking.  The Firm will provide compensation for the 4 weeks of work at the not-for-profit organization unless legally prohibited. The not-for-profit organization is subject to conflicts clearance and approval by the Firm.  Interested individuals should request consideration for this program at the time of their interview.

Is there an opportunity to see the Firm's attorneys in action and to get a realistic look at what a typical day looks like?

In addition to regular work projects, which will be assigned throughout the summer, the firm offers opportunities for summer associates to see what it is like to be a practicing attorney. "Spectator assignments" include such things as attending depositions, hearings, trials, deal closings, client meetings and attorney conferences.

What type of housing assistance is offered by the Firm?

We will be pleased to assist you in locating housing which adequately serves your personal needs. We will forward you copies of local magazines and newspapers, post on local campus websites, and put you in contact with the appropriate parties. You may also want to investigate the NALP website (www.nalp.org) which provides helpful information on apartment exchanges, swaps, rentals, and sublets. Each summer associate is responsible for his/her own housing costs, including those visiting an International office.

How do the summer associates get to know the attorneys?

We offer many opportunities for our summer associates to get to know attorneys throughout the summer. In addition to getting to know attorneys through work assignments, the Firm sponsors a variety of social events to encourage interaction. Lunches are also a great way to get to know the attorneys in the office and our lunch program is set up to encourage attorneys to take summer associates out for a casual meal during the workday.

Are summer associates expected to attend every social event even if it means putting work aside to do so?

These events are arranged so that you have the opportunity to socialize with your colleagues and get to know them on a more casual level. Should a work assignment and a Firm-sponsored social event present a conflict, you should talk with your Attorney Recruiting and Development Staff, mentor or work assignment coordinator. Although, generally speaking, work takes priority, there may be a way for you to do both. Summer associates are not required to attend every social function. It is important, however, to keep in mind that attending a good number of events will enable the Firm to get to know you and for you to get to know the Firm.

Do summer associates have mentors or advisors?

Each summer associate is assigned a mentor, and in some offices, a mentor "team." We try to match the mentors and summer associates by interests, law school or some other common criteria. The responsibility of the mentors is to facilitate the summer associate's integration into the social structure of the Firm by arranging for attorneys to take the summer associates to lunch, joining the summer associates at Firm functions, acquainting them with our attorneys and staff, and introducing them to the local city area. In addition, mentors assist as counselors, answering any work-related questions that may arise.

How are work assignments dispersed?

Generally speaking, the goal is to allow each summer associate the opportunity to take on work in any and all areas of interest, whenever possible. While the specific structure varies by office, each system is designed to accomplish this goal. This provides summer associates with an opportunity to make more informed choices about their areas of interest and to demonstrate their ability to various teams.  If a summer associate communicates a particular area of interest, we strive to give them assignments from their preferred department.

What is the typical number of hours a summer associate is expected to work each week?

Summer associates are expected to be in the office during regular business hours (typically 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). Although there is a budget requirement for our attorneys, there is no set number of hours a summer associate is required to bill.

Should all work come from a designated member(s) or can I feel free to take work from anyone?

Work should be "funneled" through the work assignment coordinator(s). If you have the opportunity to do a project for an attorney, check first with your work assignment coordinator before committing to take on the project. He or she may have your next project already lined up, or may want to give you more variety in assignments. All work needs to be assigned through the work assignment coordinator to ensure that it is properly logged and tracked for evaluation purposes.

Will I be allowed to work in my practice area of choice exclusively?

We encourage summer associates to work in a variety of practice areas to gain exposure to our various departments. To the extent a summer associate has narrowed the field and has an area of preference, every effort will be made to provide further exposure to that particular practice area. 

How does the Firm evaluate summer associate work and how will feedback/evaluations be shared with summer associates?

Summer associate work product is evaluated by the supervising attorneys on each project. Evaluations are further reviewed by the Recruiting Chair, Department Chairs, Office Chair and/or Attorney Recruiting and Development Staff which monitors the overall progress of the summer associate. Summer Associates are provided with verbal feedback from the assigning attorney on each project completed.  There is also a formal mid-summer evaluation.

Does the Firm provide training for summer associates?

It is our goal to provide you with comprehensive and extensive training pertinent to your summer experience. The Firm's Attorney Development Department is responsible for the development of programs that provide substantial legal knowledge, practical legal skills and general management skills. Over 300 such programs are provided across the Firm and throughout the course of the year. As part of our summer program, you will have the opportunity to attend a variety of training programs. Each office develops a training schedule that may include programs for summer associates as well as office-specific, department-specific and firm-wide programs. Some of the programs included focus on deposition skills training, writing/drafting, litigation skills training, clerkship programs and the "Life of a Deal". You will be provided with on-site Lexis/Nexis and Westlaw training. Our local Information Technology personnel consistently provide a wide array of software training courses including Microsoft tools, Carpe Diem, document management, Blackberry and more. We want to provide summer associates, like our attorneys, with all the tools necessary to succeed and achieve their professional goals.

Does the Firm provide a gym membership for summer associates?

Arrangements vary by office. For the time that you are with us, you may be eligible to participate in a Firm-subsidized gym membership.

Do summer associates get other benefits like health insurance, during the summer?

We suggest that you look into a short-term policy or if you remain close to campus, investigate the range of student health services provided by your law school. Many schools provide continuing student health coverage over the summer. As a summer associate your employment is temporary, and, therefore, you are not eligible to receive benefits.

Does the Firm provide assistance with child care?

The Firm offers a back-up emergency childcare program that is available to summer associates.

How long is the summer program?

Although the start dates vary slightly from office to office, the summer program is 12 weeks long.

Will I be able to take a vacation during my time with Paul Hastings?

Because the summer program is a relatively short period of time, we strongly encourage that vacations be scheduled either prior to arrival or post-departure. Should there be a special or unique circumstance, requests for time off during the summer program should be made in advance where possible to the Chair of your local summer program.

Where does Paul Hastings conduct on-campus interviews?

Paul Hastings recruits as one firm at various law schools and job fairs throughout the US and in some International locations each year. Please see our Recruiting Calendar for details.

What specific qualities does the Firm look for in candidates during interviews?

We seek to employ highly motivated individuals with diverse backgrounds who possess leadership capabilities and a record of excellent academic achievement. We invite those students who have excelled academically, as well as those who have achieved success in other disciplines or careers to interview with the Firm. Candidates must have strong interpersonal and oral/written communications skills. Personal qualities such as integrity, maturity, judgment, ambition, creativity and the desire to accept responsibility all play a strong part in our candidate review process. We are strongly committed to equal employment opportunities and encourage all individuals who believe they have the attributes we seek to pursue employment opportunities with the Firm.

What if I can't interview on campus and am interested in the Firm?

Those who do not get an interview slot with the Firm should call in advance and/or stop by our interview rooms or hospitality suites to leave a resume with the Attorney Recruiting and Development Staff or interviewing attorney. If time permits our interviewer may be able to add additional students to the schedule or at least be able to chat briefly. Students who are not scheduled, may also call the Attorney Recruiting and Development Staff to see if there is a possibility of being added to the schedule or to make alternative arrangements.

What is the typical schedule for the callback interviewing process?

A typical callback interview consists of meeting with a broad cross section of 6-7 attorneys. The morning interviews are followed by lunch with attorneys. In some instances, candidates fly in the afternoon preceding the in-office interview and stay as the Firm's guest at a local hotel. There may also be an opportunity to attend a dinner hosted by attorneys.

How long after a candidate interviews should he/she expect a hiring decision?

Our recruiting committees meet regularly. Typically, a candidate can expect a decision within a few days to one week from the time he/she has completed a callback interview. Candidates will be notified by phone and/or letter regarding the hiring decision.

Will the Firm reimburse travel expenses for call-backs? 

Yes. Reasonable travel-related expenses will be reimbursed by the Firm for callback interviews for out-of-town candidates.  Reasonable expenses include round-trip coach airfare, hotel room and tax, and a meal allowance.  The Firm does not reimburse for the expenses related to rental cars or other incidentals. Please contact the local Attorney Recruiting staff for information on how to make your travel arrangements.

Will the Firm reimburse travel expenses for Summer Associates? 

Yes. For the summer program, the Firm will pay for round-trip coach airfare between a summer associate's law school and the office in which he or she will work.  If applicable, round-trip coach airfare will also be provided for a spouse and children from the city in which the candidate is attending law school to the local office.  If a summer associate chooses to drive from his or her law school to the office in which they will work, the firm will reimburse for the lesser of round-trip coach airfare or mileage between the summer associate's law school and the office in which they will work. The Firm does not provide housing for summer associates and does not reimburse relocation expenses for summer associates.  Please contact the local Attorney Recruiting and Development Staff for information on how to make your travel arrangements.

How are office "call backs" communicated? 

As a general rule, you will receive a phone call shortly after your on-campus interview if you have been selected for a callback interview. If you have not been called back, you will receive a formal written notification.