7 Tips for Summer Associate Success
Helpful Advice from a Bradley Partner & First-Gen Lawyer
One of the greatest part of interviewing lawyers on How I Lawyer over the past 4.5 years has been getting to know some incredible attorneys from across the country—without ever being in the same room.
Alé Dalton is one of those friends. Her story is inspiring one (🔈 listen here). I am always impressed by her advice on places like LinkedIn and her dedication to the legal profession.
That is why it caught my eye when she shared 7 great tips last week for summer associates just getting started and I asked her if it was OK if I shared them with you (which she kindly agreed). I’ll probably be covering some of these in more depth over the course of the summer but these are a darn good start.
Here they are:
If you’re walking into a large law firm for the first time, here are a few tips I wish every summer associate heard early:
1. Try everything.
Be curious. Explore practice groups, take on different types of assignments, sit in on calls. Use this as an opportunity to learn what this work actually feels and looks like.
2. Get to know your fellow summers.
They’re not just your classmates, they’re future co-counsel, clients, and colleagues. Invest in these relationships now. Don't have sharp elbows, it's unnecessary. We all have stories from our summer days and legal memories live long lives. If you're going to be memorable, choose to be remembered as kind.
3. Invite lawyers to lunch and coffee.
Perfect time to learn that lawyers, as a whole, love chatting about themselves and their work. Don't assume people are too busy for you. Often the busiest, most interesting partners are the best at taking you up on 1:1 outreach. Be proactive in asking; people will make the time (and if not, you're no worse off than before you asked).
4. Go to the events.
A lot of what makes people successful at firms (opportunities, mentorships, really cool works) happens outside the conference room. Sometimes summer associates and associates assume grinding out work and avoiding social connections is the way to show commitment to the cause. There's a reason behind that well thought out social calendar and it's for you to get to know your firm and its lawyers. It's a great way to check for fit.
5. Be the *nice* squeaky wheel.
If you want to work with someone or try something new, ask. Speak up. The people who leave with the best experiences asked for them.
6. Focus on practical experience.
Research and writing memos will feel the most natural to you, especially if you just finished 1L year, but look for ways to see the real work in action. Ask for opportunities to go to court, listen in on client calls, ask to review drafts with the attorney who marked them up. Understanding how documents evolve and how advice gets delivered in real time is invaluable. The best learning happens just by being in the room.
7. Think beyond the summer.
You're not just here to build a work product binder, you're building relationships. The lawyers you connect with this summer will become your go-to mentors, champions, sounding boards, and sponsors for years to come. Start building that trust now: ask good questions, follow up on feedback, and show people who you are. Mentorship starts with connection.
You don’t have to know what you want to do with your career as a lawyer, you just have to show up, stay engaged, and take ownership of your experience.
The original link is here if you want to engage with the post or give her a follow.
Talk soon,
Jonah
