Best Summer Associate Programs

Junior lawyers look back on their experiences as summer associates to rate the summer program on attorney interactions, career development, and social experiences. Vault's 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.

Survey Methodology

Vault asked junior associates who participated in their current firm’s summer associate program to rate their experiences on a scale of 1 to 10 in six different areas. From those ratings, we ranked the best summer associate programs in three categories: Attorney Interactions (based on associates’ scores for meaningful interactions with firm attorneys); Career Development (giving equal weight to associates’ scores for substantive assignments, training and mentoring, and effective preparation for life as an associate); and Social Experiences (giving equal weight to associates’ scores for the quality of events and satisfaction with firm-sponsored social opportunities and social interactions). The Overall Best Summer Associate Program ranking reflects the average of all six individual ratings (attorney interactions, substantive assignments, training & mentoring, preparation for associate life, quality of events, and satisfaction with firm-sponsored social opportunities and social interactions).

Vault's 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.

2021 Best Summer Programs for Career Development

SCORE 9.768

2020 Rank 1

O'Melveny & Myers LLP

Long rooted in California—where it maintains a quintet of offices—O’Melveny & Myers has branched out in all directions with offices in seven countries on three continents. The firm is known for its work in antitrust, appellate litigation,...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

SCORE 9.441

2020 Rank 4

Clifford Chance US LLP

With 2,500 lawyers across more than 30 offices around the globe, Clifford Chance is a legal behemoth. The firm boasts a growing practice in the U.S. and a global reputation that shines. Brits and Yanks The Modern Clifford Chance was...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

SCORE 9.397

2020 Rank 2

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Orrick is a global firm of more than 1,100 attorneys that is fiercely committed to teamwork and innovation. The firm has dozens of offices across the globe, including domestic locations in California, New York, Oregon, and Texas. It All...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

SCORE 9.354

2020 Rank 7

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

THE SCOOP Born of a January 2011 merger between the Atlanta-based Kilpatrick Stockton and the Bay Area’s Townsend and Townsend and Crew, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton’s 620 attorneys have spread out from coast to coast and jumped to...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

SCORE 9.327

2020 Not Ranked

Baker & Hostetler LLP

BakerHostetler is home to nearly 1,000 lawyers across 16 offices throughout the U.S. The firm maintains the requisite laundry list of BigCorp clients, as well as a small yet respectable lobbying practice. A Little Investment Baker &...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

SCORE 9.244

2020 Rank 9

White & Case LLP

Founded at the dawn of the 20th century, White & Case has grown from its New York beginnings to become a truly global law firm. The firm has 44 offices across 30 countries—including 8 in the U.S.—and is well known for its experience handling...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

SCORE 9.188

2020 Not Ranked

Jackson Walker

Jackson Walker is the largest firm contained completely in Texas. The firm has more than 400 attorneys practicing in a broad range of practice areas in seven offices across the Lone Star State: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Angelo,...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here

SCORE 9.183

2020 Not Ranked

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

One of the New York elites, Willkie is home to more than 750 attorneys. In addition to its home in the Big Apple, the firm has offices in Chicago, DC, Houston, Palo Alto, and San Francisco, plus six locations across Europe. The firm is known for...

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SCORE 9.159

2020 Not Ranked

Dechert LLP

Since its founding in 1875, Dechert has become a force in the global legal market. In the United States, the firm is known for its work in antitrust, international arbitration, financial services, life sciences, strategic transactions and...

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#10

SCORE 9.147

2020 Rank 22

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Established more than 225 years ago, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is the oldest Wall Street firm still in existence. Among its practices are capital markets, corporate, financial restructuring, litigation, and real estate. The firm is a...

Overview Associate Reviews Summer Program