The WSGR Summer Associate Program
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s Summer Associate Program offers law students an opportunity to observe and participate in the work of a leading provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises.
Our summer program incorporates many of the things important to our culture:
- Challenging and varied assignments
- Direct working relationships with our innovative clients
- Meeting a wide range of attorneys
- Exciting social activities that take advantage of our locations in technology centers around the country
Mentoring
Each summer associate is assigned an associate mentorwho plays an active role throughout the summer, helpingto identify areas of interest, pursue assignments in thosepractice areas, and provide guidance, perspective, and insight.Mentors also help summer associates meet a wide variety ofattorneys at the firm.
Feedback
Attorneys will provide guidance during the assignment and feedback at the end of every project. Every summer associate receives a formal end-of-summer review.
Work Assignments
Summer associates may choose work assignments from any practice area they are interested in, either from the firm’s work-assignment database or directly from attorneys. For example, summer associates may be asked to draft:
- Board meeting minutes
- Articles of incorporation
- Venture financing documents
- Closing documents for transactions
- Answers to complaints
Further, summer associates may attend board meetings, depositions, IPO drafting sessions, client meetings, and judicial proceedings.
The Summer Associate Summit
All WSGR summer associates are invited to Palo Alto to participate in a week-long Summer Associate Summit that takes place early in the summer. The Summer Associate Summit includes learning sessions, fun activities, and networking opportunities.
The learning sessions include a Deposition Skills Workshop in which summer associates receive first-hand experience taking and defending a mock deposition. Summer associates also participate in a Client Life Cycle exercise, where they gain insight to how all our practice groups work together to service client needs at every stage of the company’s growth.
In addition to these sessions, summer associates are provided many opportunities to network with one another and attorneys at the firm through lunches, receptions, and a partner dinner. The Summer Associate Summit concludes with a relaxing retreat where summer associates spend time bonding as a class at destinations like Santa Cruz, Napa, and the Monterey Bay. This summer program highlight sets an excellent example of the quality and depth of the firm’s commitment to training and encouraging associate development as quickly as possible.
Social Functions
In addition to the chance to work with some of the leading attorneys and innovative companies in the nation and around the globe, our summer associates will also have the opportunity to socialize at various gatherings with their fellow peers, from bowling nights and sporting events to wine tastings and concerts.