What does a summer law associate do?
Summer law associate responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real summer law associate resumes:
- Manage probate and estates administration.
- Represent international and domestic corporations in commercial transactions, corporate governance and in arbitration and mediation disputes.
- Research legal issues relate to ongoing litigation, present findings in office memorandum and verbally discuss in office meetings.
- Prepare for and participate in collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration and mediation hearings, client meetings, and a CLE presentation.
- Prepare discovery request including interrogatories and admissions.
- Propound and respond to interrogatories and document requests.
- Prepare, file and monitor probate and other estate administration applications.
- Establish procedures and implement the use of agreements that successfully reduce and avoid employment relate litigation and associate costs.
- Represent individual and institutional clients in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition, financing and leasing and foreclosure.
- Conduct investigations, interview clients and file subpoenas.
- Draft motions, requests for documents, subpoenas and affidavits.
- Examine residential mortgage-backed securities documents and guidelines, and buyback documents relate to a pending insider trading matter.
Summer law associate skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Summer Law Associates are proficient in Litigation, Law Firm, and Employment Law. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Summer Law Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 18%
Established procedures and implemented the use of agreements that successfully reduced and avoided employment related litigation and associated costs.
- Law Firm, 12%
Worked with the law firm's founding partners, handling family, criminal, and immigration law matters.
- Employment Law, 7%
Researched and created inter-office memos regarding current employment laws and defamation of character issues.
- Legal Research, 7%
Conducted legal research and drafted briefs on issues related to employment discrimination and unjust employment termination.
- Settlement Agreements, 7%
Negotiated settlement agreements and complex division of property.
- Employment Agreements, 6%
Drafted and negotiated offer letters and employment agreements and separation agreements; reviewed benefit-related communications.
Common skills that a summer law associate uses to do their job include "litigation," "law firm," and "employment law." You can find details on the most important summer law associate responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a summer law associate to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what summer law associates do because "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Additionally, a summer law associate resume shows how summer law associates use analytical skills: "analyzed prosecution histories in the software and electro-mechanical arts and assisted in litigation matters involving global technology companies. "
Interpersonal skills. Many summer law associate duties rely on interpersonal skills. "lawyers must build relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as with their colleagues and other members of the legal community.," so a summer law associate will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways summer law associate responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "established oral argument and public speaking techniques as well as effective interpersonal, written & oral communication skills. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of summer law associates is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday summer law associate duties, as "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "resolved hundreds of litigation matters and proof of claims in company's chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. "
Research skills. For certain summer law associate responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "research skills." The day-to-day duties of a summer law associate rely on this skill, as "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what summer law associates do: "researched legal issues related to ongoing litigation, presented findings in office memorandum and verbally discussed in office meetings. "
The three companies that hire the most summer law associates are:
- Shulman Rogers1 summer law associates jobs
- Regent University College Of Science And Technology1 summer law associates jobs
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Compare different summer law associates
Summer law associate vs. Attorney
Generally, an attorney's responsibility is to advise the client with an ongoing lawsuit on the legal procedures and provide strategies to resolve the case as early as possible. An attorney compiles necessary documents or any records for appeal and client's defense. Attorneys must acquire strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to mediate disputes and settle pending litigation for the client's best interest. In some cases, an attorney's procedure depends on any evidence and research presented during the trial period. An attorney is expected to present clients on legal proceedings, seeking justice and justifying the law.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between summer law associates and attorney. For instance, summer law associate responsibilities require skills such as "employment agreements," "real estate," "labor law," and "discovery motions." Whereas a attorney is skilled in "juris," "appeals," "real estate transactions," and "social security." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Attorneys tend to reach similar levels of education than summer law associates. In fact, attorneys are 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.8% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Summer law associate vs. Legal counsel
A Legal Counsel supervises the legal aspects of a business. They give accurate and timely counsel to executives on a variety of legal topics, such as labor law, partnerships, or international ventures.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real summer law associate resumes. While summer law associate responsibilities can utilize skills like "law firm," "real estate," "discovery motions," and "trial preparation," legal counsels use skills like "legal support," "legal risks," "excellent interpersonal," and "in-house counsel."
Legal counsels may earn a higher salary than summer law associates, but legal counsels earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $159,575. On the other hand, summer law associates receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $166,226.legal counsels earn similar levels of education than summer law associates in general. They're 4.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Summer law associate vs. Legal extern
Legal externs are law students who took the opportunity to do on-the-job training at a law firm. Instead of monetary compensation, they receive academic credits. Legal externs primarily engage in job shadowing. They are usually assigned mentors in the law firm, and they would shadow their mentors in their daily routines. Legal externs are exposed to the actual work done by lawyers. Legal externs are involved in cases, providing insights while building a solid case for their client, giving advice to clients, and representing clients under the supervision of the actual lawyers in the firm. They are usually not given administrative or clerical tasks since they are expected to do more tasks directly related to being a lawyer.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, summer law associates are more likely to have skills like "employment agreements," "labor law," "discovery motions," and "trial preparation." But a legal extern is more likely to have skills like "legal intern," "legal memos," "powerpoint," and "juris."
Legal externs make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $69,693. On the other hand, summer law associates are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $166,226.legal externs typically earn similar educational levels compared to summer law associates. Specifically, they're 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 23.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Summer law associate vs. Housing counselor
A Housing Counselor works directly with clients and organizations to support moderate and low-income clients in overcoming barriers to housing and financial stability. They represent the homeowner in interventions and/or mediation proceedings with the mortgage servicer, lender, and/or other stakeholders.
Types of summer law associate
Updated January 8, 2025
