Summer Associate Survey Results

McDermott Will & Emery's Summer Associate Program was ranked 30th out of 170 firms in the 2007 American Lawyer Summer Associates Survey. This result is especially gratifying, as it continues a trend of excellence in which the Firm ranked 16th and 21st in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Ninety two percent of our Firmwide summer associates completed the survey.

City-by-city results are as follows (if a certain office is not listed, there were not enough survey participants to merit a city ranking, but any responses from that office contributed to our excellent overall national ranking):

  • Boston:                  4th out of 22 firms
  • Chicago:                9th out of 25 firms
  • Los Angeles:         12th out of 35 firms
  • New York:              24th out of 85 firms
  • Washington, D.C.: 11th out of 62 firms

"This recognition would not have been possible without the continued commitment of our hiring partners, recruiting staff and administrative and support staff," commented Lydia Kelley, Co-Chair of the Firmwide Recruiting Committee.

McDermott scored above a 4.8 on a number of the survey questions, including opportunities for pro bono work, associate-summer associate interaction, attorneys who are enjoyable to work with and attorneys enjoy working with each other.

The average of nine job satisfaction questions are used to determine each firm's overall score. The questions used for scoring ask respondents how interesting the work has been, how much "real" work was assigned, how the training and guidance measured up, how positive their interactions with partners and associates were, how well the firm communicated its goals and expectations, how accurately the firm portrayed itself in interviews, and the respondents' inclination to accept a position if one were offered.

In describing McDermott in an internal survey, summer associates made the following comments:

  • "I was treated like a first-year associate and worked on a variety of interesting assignments that were sent directly to the client,"
     
  • "I have had the opportunity this summer to work closely with partners who always took the time to provide extensive feedback. The attorneys, at all levels, highly value mentoring and training the summer associates,"
     
  • "At the end of the summer, I had a good understanding of the work the Firm does as well as lasting friendships with other summer associates and attorneys at the Firm,"
     
  • "I was able to devote a significant amount of time to Pro Bono matters and was pleased to see that Pro Bono remains a priority amongst many attorneys in the office."

Throughout its eight U.S. offices, McDermott, Will & Emery employed more than 100 summer associates and added more than 60 first year associates this year.