Summer Associate Program

Program Overview

Ball Janik LLP’s summer associate program is an important source for hiring new associates.  Our summer program typically includes law students who have completed the second year of law school.  Through our summer program, it is our hope and expectation that a summer associate will become an attorney who will begin a rewarding and long-term association with Ball Janik LLP.  In the past, a number of summer associates continued to clerk for us during their third year of law school.  We have found this ongoing relationship beneficial for both parties, and a rewarding transition from summer associate and law clerk to a full-time attorney.

Each year, the Recruiting Committee assesses the needs of the various practice groups to determine the number of summer associates to hire for the following summer.  The Committee’s goal is to hire only the number of summer associates needed to fill future first-year associate positions.  The Recruiting Committee makes every effort to hire candidates who we believe will fit well in our firm and practice areas, with the expectation that the summer associate will succeed and receive an offer of employment to become a future Ball Janik LLP associate.

We expose our summer associates to multiple practice areas, work assignments, training and educational opportunities in order for them to gain insight into the role of an associate at Ball Janik LLP. Our summer program focuses on providing the tools needed to become a successful lawyer, through orientation, mentoring, training, assignments, and inclusion in various legal educational opportunities.

Program Structure

The summer program is characterized by the absence of a rigid, formalized structure.  We seek to give our summer associates a fair and realistic experience of life as a first-year associate practicing law and working at the firm.

As a general rule, summer associates have the opportunity to work with members of the firm in a variety of practice areas.  Summer associates who express interest in particular practice areas, however, often focus their work in those areas.  Because we usually have a small number of summer associates each year, we are able to tailor our program to respond to the practice interests of each individual summer associate, rather than treating them as a group.  To ensure that these objectives are met, each summer associate is assigned an attorney mentor, and is encouraged to work with the Summer Program Coordinator who manages the summer associate program and work assignments.

The mentor provides practical guidance and helps to ensure balance of attorney contact and projects. The mentor is available to answer questions about the firm, practice areas, and provide direction on work assignments, research, and resources.   The attorney mentor is instrumental in coordinating social opportunities with attorneys in the firm.

The first days of employment involve thorough orientation meetings with various legal management and administrative areas of the firm.  This orientation provides an understanding of firm operations and available services and resources.

Summer associates participate in periodic meetings of the firm’s practice groups, as well as informational meetings between the firm’s managing partners and the associates.  It is our intention that through these meetings summer associates become fully informed about practice and internal management issues facing the firm.  Participation by the summer associates in discussions of such issues is encouraged and welcomed.

Evaluations

Throughout the summer, attorneys provide feedback on summer associate work assignments.  A copy of the project evaluation form is provided to each summer associate at the beginning of the summer so the summer associate understands what the attorney will be assessing for each project.  In addition, summer associates have two evaluation meetings with the Summer Program Coordinator, one at mid-summer and another at the end of his or her summer employment.  The goals of the mid-summer evaluation meeting are to provide the summer associate with an assessment of his or her progress to date, areas in which he or she should strive to improve, and practice areas in which or attorneys with whom the summer associate should work before the end of the summer.

Compensation/Benefits

Ball Janik LLP summer associates recently earned $1,850 a week.  In addition to a weekly salary, the firm pays the summer associate's roundtrip expenses to and from Portland, Oregon. As temporary employees, summer associates do not receive the firm's standard employee benefits.

Each year we review the summer associate weekly salary and will make an adjustment to remain competitive with other law firms in the Portland area.  

Program Activities

The summer program offers the summer associates and Ball Janik LLP partners and employees the opportunity to interact professionally and personally.  Social activities are organized to highlight the unique qualities of the Pacific Northwest, with consideration given to the special interests of the summer associates. Activities will include formal and informal social events, inside and outside of the office.  The summer program activities are balanced to give the summer associates an opportunity to participate in all of the events and still have time to become familiar with the city and state and spend time with family and friends at their leisure.

Some Interesting Assignments of Past Summer Associates

Ball Janik LLP’s summer program provides a depth of experience and responsibility unlike many other programs.  Summer associates receive high quality and sophisticated work assignments and directly interact with senior partners and clients.

The following are typical projects and descriptions of work assignments in which our summer associates have been involved:

• Trial Participation -- A summer associate worked closely with a litigation partner and associate on a construction defect trial.  The summer associate attended the week-long jury trial and participated in client meetings, expert witness conferences, and strategy sessions with the lead attorneys.  The summer associate was given the opportunity to provide input and, where appropriate, the lead attorneys incorporated that input into the trial strategy.  Ultimately, with the help of the summer associate, the jury returned a verdict in favor of our clients.
• Depositions -- A summer associate worked with the senior litigation partner to defend our client at a third-party deposition.  The summer associate reviewed documents and drafted a memo outlining potential targets of the deposition and evaluating the legal exposure of our client.  The project culminated in the summer associate attending the deposition with the senior litigation partner.
• Client Litigation Assessment -- A second-year law student drafted a memo for one of the firm's largest clients detailing the client's prospects in potential litigation.  During this project, the summer associate who focused on litigation was exposed to other practice groups within the firm.  Ultimately, the partner forwarded the memo to the client to evaluate whether to pursue litigation.
• Summary Judgment Motions and Witness Interviews -- A second-year law student worked with a partner on litigation relating to a large local ski resort.  The summer associate drafted a summary judgment motion and brief and interviewed potential witnesses.  The summer associate dealt directly with the client concerning the assignment.
• Court of Appeals Appellate Brief -- A second-year law student worked closely with a partner on an appellate brief for the Oregon Court of Appeals and drafted one of the arguments.  The summer associate also drafted employment agreements and loan agreements and worked directly with a client to resolve a matter with the Social Security office.
• Multi-Party Litigation -- A second-year law student worked with a senior associate on a multi-party litigation case.  The summer associate drafted a motion to dismiss and supporting brief.  Based on the brief, our client prevailed in its motion to dismiss the case.
• Client Marketing Plan Development -- Another second-year law student worked with a senior partner on a $3 million property sale.  The assignment involved the summer associate determining the zoning regulations and taxes on the property, and then viewing and analyzing the property.  The summer associate then met with the broker and clients and helped to develop a marketing plan.
• Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Transaction -- A first-year law student worked directly with a senior founding partner on a real estate transaction involving a $38.5 million dollar stadium redevelopment deal.  The summer associate was an integral part of the firm's team that closed the transaction.  For example, the summer associate had the opportunity to meet with the client and other parties involved in the transaction to participate in negotiation of critical transaction document exhibits.  The summer associate received praise at the city council hearing he attended with the senior partner and other members of the team, and also attended the private ground-breaking ceremony.