How to Thrive as a Summer Associate

At the kickoff of every summer program, one of the first questions at orientation is, “Do you have any advice on how to become a successful summer associate?” While there are hundreds of different ways to frame the question and the answer, the core concern remains the same.

This article answers the question within the framework of a summer clerkship. But whether you are embarking on a summer associate position at a firm, a summer clerkship at the courthouse or an internship at a legal aid clinic, there are three universal truths that can make or break the summer: (1) relationships matter; (2) deadlines matter; and (3) work product matters.