Summer Associate Program
Program At-a-Glance
- 12 weeks paid engagement
- Project assignments across all firm practice areas
- Hands-on participation in mediations, court sessions, client meetings, research, and firm meetings
- Dedicated attorney mentorship
- Social activities with firm members
- Performance feedback on all projects; mid-summer and closing evaluations
Program Overview
Are you ready to take your legal education beyond the classroom? At Smith Debnam, we offer a summer associate program that goes beyond the ordinary. Our program provides law students with an immersive experience and firsthand insight into the real practice of law. If you’re a candidate who has completed your second year of law school and seeks a challenging and instructive summer in a dynamic practice environment, this opportunity is for you.
Variety of Assignments
In our program, you’ll engage in meaningful legal work that supports our attorneys across a diverse range of practice areas and clients. Your assignments will include researching and preparing briefs, assisting with discovery requests or responses, drafting complaints, and attending mediations, court sessions, and client meetings – all within the context of active client matters. We aim to expose you to a variety of practice specialties, allowing you to actively participate in the activities and venues that constitute the legal representation of a client.
Structured Support
To guide you through your summer experience, we’ll assign a dedicated mentor attorney to each law student. Your mentor will oversee the quality and quantity of your assignments, provide valuable guidance, and offer feedback on every project. They will also be available for general discussions on broader legal industry and practice management topics.
Networking and Relationship Building
In addition to gaining hands-on experience, our program serves as an opportunity for you and our firm to get to know each other better, with the potential for permanent employment. You’ll become fully immersed in the daily life of our firm, experiencing our work ethic, collegial culture, and commitment to professional development. We also plan various social activities throughout the summer, providing relaxed and informal interactions with our partners, associates, and firm management.
How to Apply
Smith Debnam is accepting 2L applications for the 2024 Summer Associate Program.
- To be considered, please upload your cover letter, resume, undergraduate transcript, and law school transcript.
- If your law school transcript is not yet released, please forward it to Brian Gilman, Chief Operating Officer, at bgilman@smithdebnamlaw.com, as soon as it becomes available.
- Documents should be in PDF format.
For more information regarding our fall oncampus interview schedule, please contact Brian Gilman, Chief Operating Officer, at 919-250-2000 or submit your resume.