Summer Program

Summer Associate Life

As a summer associate at Goulston & Storrs, you have a unique opportunity to learn about the legal profession and our firm. Your summer with Goulston & Storrs offers amazing work opportunities throughout several practice areas, with hands-on experience assisting the firm’s attorneys. Expect to live the law firm experience with direct partner and client exposure. Work assignments are interesting, substantive and include research and writing assignments, client meetings, conference calls, depositions and attending hearings. Your summer with Goulston & Storrs offers amazing work opportunities throughout several practice areas, assisting the firm’s attorneys.

Experience first-hand what is involved in getting the deals done.

We encourage you to take full advantage of everything the summer associate program offers. Make friends, hone your skills and soak up information to help you develop your career. Attend practice area seminars. Participate in mock negotiations and trials run by our corporate and litigation attorneys. See our real estate work in action through tours of our client sites. Network during social events outside the office such as an interactive cooking class, a baseball game, or a summertime bbq.

FAQs

What Kind of People Work at G&S?

We attract and hire people who:

seek a sophisticated and challenging legal practice
are concerned about team success over individual recognition
are willing to work hard
are self-starters
have a sense of humor
are interested in community outreach
like great food

How Do Summer Associates Get Work Assignments?

The summer committee (comprised of directors, associates, and the members of the Legal Recruitment team) is responsible for coordinating work assignments for all summer associates. The committee works hard to ensure that summer associates get exposure to as many practice areas as possible. If you want to focus on a particular practice area, just ask and we will try to make it happen. Summer associates can also review available assignments and choose some of particular interest.

How Similar Will My Experience Be to That of a First-Year Associate?

Whether you're a summer associate or a first-year, you'll draft deal documents and court papers, and participate in client meetings, conference calls, closings, etc., working hand in hand with more experienced lawyers. Summer associates are not expected to lead deals, but first-years may lead aspects of a deal such as obtaining client authorizations and consents.

As a summer associate, you'll attend lunches with our attorneys, go to client meetings and tours, participate in a kickball tournament and go on a Duck Tour. First year associates attend similar events to build relationships with their colleagues and the firm's clients, including weekly (sometimes daily!) lunches, harbor cruises and golf outings to build relationships with the firm's lawyers.

Will I Get to Do Pro Bono Work?

Absolutely! All summer associates get at least one pro bono assignment. First-year associates always have pro bono work since our 40 pro bono clients are handled just as any "paying" client.

What Kind of Feedback Do Associates Get?

In addition to formal reviews, associates also receive informal feedback almost daily, through edits to your written work and suggestions on improving your performance. Not all learning is after the fact. Senior lawyers spend time helping associates prepare for arguments, trials, and closings.

What Does the Firm Expect in the Way of Billable Hours?

We have no minimum billable hours requirement, but we encourage a varied and fulsome workload that aligns with our associates’ strengths and interests and facilitates their ongoing growth and development, and encourage associates to strive for a target of 1850 hours (including billable and pro bono work).

For more information about associate life, including professional development, training, mentoring, and feedback, click here.