| Recruitment: Summer Associate Program
The Experience
Summer associates will be provided meaningful exposure to the challenging and interesting practices of Gordon & Rees. The goal is for each summer associate to join a practice group but also to have the opportunity for exposure to the different areas of the law in which the firm is involved. Additionally, summer associates are invited to attend hearings, depositions, trials, arbitrations and client meetings to gain as much exposure to the Firm's varied legal practices as possible.
Training
Gordon & Rees is committed to providing meaningful training to summer associates. For example, the summer associates attend a seminar on how to take depositions. They then take a deposition of a mock witness from a fact pattern that the firm selects. Each deposition is transcribed by a court reporter and defended by a Gordon & Rees attorney. The summer associate's performance is evaluated and critiqued with the attorneys present. Upon completion of the deposition training, the summer associate is well prepared to take a deposition on his or her own. Summer associates also participate as witnesses in the firm's annual mock trial program.
Social Events and Activities
Gordon & Rees understands that the selection of a law firm to start a career as an attorney requires more information than can be gained during the usual work day. Events are organized throughout the summer so that summer associates can socialize with one another as well as with the rest of the firm. These events include a welcoming party, dinner parties, barbecues, lawyers' league softball games, tennis and golf tournaments and a farewell party. Informal interaction such as "grabbing a lunch" or using the firm's in-house locker and shower facilities for a noontime run is also an important part of the summer experience.
Evaluations
Each Gordon & Rees summer associate is evaluated throughout the summer by the attorneys with whom he or she works. The firm's lawyers acknowledge and take seriously their role in mentoring and educating the law students who will hopefully eventually become part of the Gordon & Rees team.
Mentoring
Each attorney has an assigned Mentor, there is an official mentoring committee and the committee is tasked with enhancing the program by instituting events and more interactive communication with the mentee and mentor. Each summer associate also has a mentor assigned to them for the summer as well as a person in their specific practice group who acts as a mentor during the summer.
Compensation
The Gordon & Rees compensation package is competitive with those of other firms of comparable size throughout the geographic area in which each office is located.
Qualifications
Students with strong academic records and the desire to join a dynamic, growing law firm who have completed two years of law school are sought for a summer associate position at Gordon & Rees.
Demographics
The 2008 summer associate class consisted of students from these law schools: Hastings College of the Law, Santa Clara University School of Law, University of California Berkeley - Boalt Hall School of Law, Washington University School of Law, Washington and Lee University School of Law, University of San Diego School of Law, University of California Los Angeles School of Law and the University of Denver College of Law.
Incoming Summer Associates for 2008:
Dara Adams
Undergrad: Dartmouth College
Law School: University of San Francisco School of Law
James Holder
Undergrad: University of California - Berkeley
Law School: Santa Clara University School of Law
Chad Plini
Undergrad: Stanford University
Law School: University of Arizona, Rogers College of the Law
Caraine Guerrero
Undergrad: St. Mary's College of California
Law School: Golden Gate University School of Law
Mazarin A. Vakharia
Undergrad: The University of Texas - Austin
Law School: Santa Clara University School of Law
Rebecca Wardell
Undergrad: University of Southern California
Law School: University of California - Hastings College of the Law
How to Apply
Law students interested in applying for a summer associate position should submit a cover letter, resume,
writing sample, transcript and list of references to:
Susan Roe
Director of Professional Development
Gordon & Rees LLP
275 Battery Street, 20th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Tel: (415) 986-5900
Email: sumrec@gordonrees.com
|
