Summer Associate Survey Results

McDermott Will & Emery's Summer Associate Program was ranked 27th out of 162 firms in the 2008 American Lawyer Summer Associates Survey. This result is especially gratifying, as it is the fourth year in which McDermott has been ranked in the top 30 Summer Programs nationally. 

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:                    2nd out of 25 firms
  • Chicago:                12th out of 29 firms
  • Los Angeles:        13th out of 31 firms
  • New York:              17th out of 83 firms
  • Palo Alto:               15th out of 44 firms
  • Washington, D.C.:  9th out of 58 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.

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 89 summer associates and added more than 85 first year associates this year.