Bringing all our summer associates from every office together for a week of training, fun, and relaxation is a highlight of our summer program.
Each year, we host dozens of summer associates at our offices around the country. While at their home offices, they spend a lot of time getting to know the other summers in their office, their local attorneys, and the attorneys in their practice areas. But getting to know each other as a whole class is a priority, so we bring them all together early in the summer for a week-long Summer Academy—an absolute highlight of the summer program.
Our Summer Academy is the first in a series of training academies run by our Professional Development team for our associates and new members. Summer Academy is an opportunity for all our summer associates to be in one place and learn together from attorneys and staff leaders at the firm, as well a few outside speakers.
The 2023 Academy featured a welcome address from our Board Chair, Katie Martin, and an “Ask Me Anything” session with our Managing Partner, Doug Clark. Summers participated in a panel on professional and career development with Allison Blixt, Senior Director of Professional Development and DEI, and Liz Blong, Director of Career Development; a presentation on attorney wellness from our Culture, Engagement and Well-Being Manager Johana Roberts; and a lively panel with members of several of Wilson Sonsini‘s very active affinity groups. The Academy kicked off with a variety of team building improv games led by Comedy Sportz and continued with a negotiation workshop with Moshe Cohen. Chris Boyd, our COO, led a session on the business of law and John Brown, our CMO, talked about the history of the firm. Finally, Luis Li, a litigation partner in our Los Angeles office, discussed trying a case in the public eye and spoke candidly about litigating the Vanessa Bryant case against Los Angeles County.
Of course, in addition to all of this excellent educational content we always ensure when we bring our summer associates together we give them plenty of down time to bond. In addition to breakfast and lunch every day, including the opportunity to spend some time with the members of our Associates Committee, our summer associates enjoyed a dinner in honor of Juneteenth featuring Black-owned food trucks as well as a progressive partner dinner where our summers changed seats with every course.
The remainder of the Academy week our summer associates bonded at a relaxing retreat held at Chaminade Resort in Santa Cruz. They engaged in a fun afternoon of programming where we first introduced the summer associates to their group projects known as Wilson Sonsini 360, then they all participated in a Juneteenth service project decorating Sweet Cases for children and teens in the foster care system through Foster Love.
Most of the time at Chaminade was spent allowing our summer associates to get to know each other through social activities. Summers enjoyed the resort property, went paddle boarding and kayaking, visited the Santa Cruz boardwalk, and, of course, enjoyed several delicious meals together.
Our summers enjoyed this annual opportunity to mingle with who we hope will be their long-term colleagues and learn about all the things that make Wilson Sonsini great.
