Our Summer Program
Training, Mentoring and Evaluation Process
Training
We offer our Summer Associates a training program that is a preview of first-year Associate training. Thus, Summer Associates receive a comprehensive orientation, legal research and writing training and are invited to various practice group seminars. Summer Associates are also provided the opportunity to participate in abridged versions of our in-house "hands-on" training programs.
Mentoring
Each Summer Associate is assigned a Partner/Counsel "mentor," a Senior Associate "advisor" and a first-year associate "buddy," who are responsible for guiding them through firm life. At Kaye Scholer, mentors, advisors and buddies are available to address Summer Associate concerns and questions. It is not unusual for our Summer Associates to have a professional friendship with a mentor, adviser or buddy that continues for many years beyond the program.
Evaluation Process
We know that an important part of the Summer Associate's learning experience is receiving feedback on assignments performed during the summer. Each assignment is evaluated by the supervising lawyer(s), both by a written evaluation to the Recruiting Committee and by informal review with the Summer Associate. At Kaye Scholer we have an "open door" policy, and encourage Summer Associates to also request informal feedback. Each Summer Associate will receive a mid-summer review and an end-of-summer debriefing, where a member of the Recruiting Committee discusses with the Summer Associate each of his or her assignments and the written evaluations provided by the supervising lawyers.
