As a Wilson Sonsini summer associate, you will explore and experience our firm, our community, and the technology and life sciences clients we serve.
Our summer program will offer you ample training and significant client contact. You’ll work on a variety of projects alongside many attorneys within your practice group. Our goal: to give you a realistic view of what it is like to practice law here and to give you the insight, relationships, and experience to be successful when you join as a junior associate.
However, our summer program isn’t just about the work. It’s also about understanding what law firm life is like and giving you the social connections to make a successful transition into Wilson Sonsini.
You’ll get to know your fellow summers, as well as partners and associates, across the firm. From summer academy to happy hours and dinners to firm social events, you’ll find new friends, new colleagues, and new mentors, and you’ll gain invaluable insight into your career and your future.
How much partner contact will I get?
One concern summer associates candidates often have is: How accessible are the people I’m going to work with? And what kind of people are these?
I think one thing that’s special about Wilson is its open-door policy. Its non-hierarchical policy.
We are, like our clients, not super formal. We represent primarily tech clients. It’s not traditional lawyering. So I think one of the really special things is if people are open to being mentored and if they communicate, people will communicate back to you and people will be responsive.
I know, for me, my most formative experiences as a junior attorney and as a summer associate were being mentored by people who grew to care about me. The people I work with are some of my best friends. And they’re why I’ve stayed with for so long.
How do I choose a summer program?
“Try to find your people. I think this job is hard. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s hard. If you choose litigation, you’re dealing with people who are fighting with you and telling you that you’re wrong—and not always in a civil way. Find people you can go to who will have your back, people who will support you and help you grow over the course of your career. Summer programs are great places to find your people. Many of my friends are people that I met in my summer program. What you do is important but who you do it with is way more important.”
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Our dedicated, in-house attorney recruitment team is here to support you before, during, and after the hiring process.
From lateral partners to law students, we know the firm, we know you have questions, and we’re here to help.
