Clark Hill PLC

Associate Employment

                                   As an ambitious individual, you have professional and personal aspirations. Clark Hill provides the work environment, the tools - and most importantly - the culture to help you achieve those aspirations. We are committed to hiring, training, mentoring and retaining the finest people who bring the right balance of professional skills and personal qualities that exemplify the Clark Hill Experience. To find out more about our Summer Associate Program and Post-Clerkship Associate employment opportunities, please read on.

Summer Associate Program
The Summer Associate Program at Clark Hill is an integral part of our firm’s recruitment of associates. We recruit summer associates with the intention of hiring them as full-time associates; that is, we do not hire a large class of students and then decrease the class by extending a small number of full-time offers. Thus, our emphasis is quality over quantity, and we look to recruit only the finest and most talented students.

As a Clark Hill Summer Associate, you are afforded the same work environment as that of an associate who has just joined the firm upon graduation. There is no distinction in work assignments, client contact, development or responsibilities. All practice groups in the firm provide assignments to you – therefore, you are not locked into a single practice area. Conversely, if you express an interest in a single practice area, we can accommodate a more specific focus as well.

Social activities are planned throughout the summer to give our summer associates the opportunity to know our attorneys outside the work place. Our Summer Associates tell us each year that we strike the right balance - we do not burden you with numerous after-work events to attend and the workday is devoted to client assignments and professional development.

Summer Associates are assigned mentors for the duration of the program. They receive performance evaluations at the midpoint and end of the program to assist in self-evaluation and career planning. We also assign an Associate Liaison to our Summer Program who is a member of our Recruiting Committee. The Liaison holds weekly progress meetings with our Summer Associates and is available for one-on-one meetings.

Summer Associates attend monthly practice group meetings, in-house training and seminars. We also offer, in conjunction with Detroit Legal Services Clinic, a unique opportunity for Summer Associates to work on pro bono matters. We take great pride in our program and we solicit feedback from our Summer Associates each year with the intent to act on their recommendations to improve our program.

If you are interested in applying for a Summer Associate position, please send your resume and credentials to:

Martha N. Mackinnon
Clark Hill PLC
500 Woodward Avenue, Suite 3500
Detroit, Michigan 48226-3435
mmackinnon@clarkhill.com

Post-Clerkship Employment
Clark Hill values the unique skills that post-clerkship associates bring to the firm, and thus has several former federal and appellate court clerks among our attorneys. Starting salary adjustment and credit towards membership will be considered for those clerking for the Michigan Supreme Court, United States District Courts, and United States Courts of Appeals on a case-by-case basis. Those interested in a clerkship may participate in our Summer Associate program and defer their start dates up to two years. We also encourage those who are nearing the end of their clerkships to contact us regarding opportunities with our firm. Please reply in confidence with your letter, resume and credentials to:

Martha N. Mackinnon
Clark Hill PLC
500 Woodward Avenue, Suite 3500
Detroit, Michigan 48226-3435
mmackinnon@clarkhill.com