What kind of work will I do?
What are Faegre's hiring criteria?
We seek students with the potential to become great lawyers. We want lawyers who will thrive in an environment where people work together as a part of a team to serve the client. We want lawyers who will do more than a good job on what they are told to do — we want all of our lawyers to think innovatively and strategically about what needs to be done on a case or a deal. Consequently, superior academic performance is fundamental, but we also look for other indications of non-academic achievement, motivation, maturity, a wide range of interests, teamwork and communication skills.
How are offer decisions made?
Each project you complete will be evaluated in writing by the assigning attorney. At the end of the summer, the firm's Legal Personnel Committee uses these written evaluations in confirming whether a summer associate has the qualities we seek. We hire our summer associates with the hope and expectation that they will all receive offers to join the Firm. Our track record shows that we are quite successful selecting people for the Summer Program who have the qualities we seek.
What pro bono opportunities are available to summer associates?
You will have the opportunity to work on projects for pro bono clients with a supervising attorney. Our firm participates in several pro bono programs, including Volunteer Lawyers Network, JUSTice FOR KIDS, and a variety of clinics. You will have opportunities to do projects in the areas of low income and poverty, environmental and public interest, civil and human rights, and non-profit transactional projects. Typical summer associate projects include representing low income persons in a variety of legal problems including landlord/tenant disputes, conciliation court and conciliation court appeals, administrative hearings and miscellaneous civil and consumer matters.
What practice group will I work with?
During the summer, you'll have the opportunity to work with lawyers from a variety of practice groups at the firm. In Minneapolis you'll rotate through three or four groups, and in Colorado or Iowa, you'll work with lawyers in most or all of our groups. At the end of the summer, we'll ask you to give us your preferences for practice group assignments if you were to join us as an associate.
What will I do during the summer other than work?
We plan a variety of events during the summer. Our hope is that the events will show you a bit of what the Twin Cities, Colorado and Des Moines have to offer, as well as give you the opportunity to meet as many different lawyers in the firm as possible. Not all of the events are big — we have a lot of small-group events as well. This past summer we had dinners at lawyers' homes, a cooking class, bowling, and a concert at Red Rocks, just to name a few. Naturally, your attendance at these events is voluntary. You'll also be invited to a lot of informal and more spontaneous gatherings ranging from happy hours to ball games to concerts.
Will someone be looking out for me during the summer?
Yes. We make a particular effort when we plan our Summer Program to make sure that each summer associate has a number of people to go to with questions, concerns, etc. When you arrive at the firm, you will meet your associate sponsor. Your sponsor will help you meet people at the firm, show you around town and be there generally to answer any questions or help with any concerns that may come up over the course of the summer. Also, to make sure you get appropriate work, we have lawyers whose job it is to collect and assign projects. A legal administrative assistant will be assigned to you and, in Minneapolis, as you rotate through different groups, there are designated lawyers in each group who take care of introducing you to everyone in the group.
The Summer Program Committee and our Legal Personnel staff monitor your workload to help ensure that you get the right mix of work during the summer. They check in regularly to make sure that your summer is going well, and our doors are always open.
What salary and benefits do you offer to summer associates?
In 2007, our summer associates salary was $2,300 per week in Minnesota and Colorado, and $1,900 per week in Iowa. We pay your transportation to the firm and back to school, and we can also help you find short-term housing. Our compensation for 2008 will be announced in the spring.
Tell me more about the firm.
What kind of training do you offer summer associates?
Our lawyers will give written and oral evaluations of every project you perform. At both the midpoint and the end of the summer, you will meet with a member of the Summer Program Committee to discuss the projects you worked on and to generally discuss how the summer is going.
We also offer a Summer Writing Program. Early in the summer, you will have at least one of your written projects carefully reviewed by a partner who is not involved with the assignment. The reviewer focuses on your legal writing skills. This gives us the opportunity to assist you in making the transition from writing as a law student to writing as a practicing lawyer. Continuing assistance will be provided as may be appropriate.
Who can I contact if I have additional questions about the Summer Program?
| Minneapolis/Des Moines |
 |
Colorado |
|---|---|---|
|
Dana Gray Manager of Legal Personnel Services Faegre & Benson LLP 2200 Wells Fargo Center 90 South Seventh Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 FAX: 612-766-1600 |
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Amy Schneider Colorado Legal Personnel Manager Faegre & Benson LLP 3200 Wells Fargo Center 1700 Lincoln Street Denver, CO 80203 FAX: 303-607-3600 |
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