Law Student Opportunities
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 Advantage. To find out more about our Summer Associate Program and employment opportunities, please read on.
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Summer Associate Program
What to Expect
Our 2024 Summer Associate Program will start at the end of May and last approximately 10 weeks. Unlike other firms — which often hire a number of students but extend only a few full-time offers — we hire a select group of Summer Associates with the intention of offering each of them positions as full-time associates. With this in mind, we recruit only the finest and most talented law students, who share our core values, and who we expect will thrive in our entrepreneurial environment.
Orientation, Training, and Mentoring
Your summer experience will begin with a comprehensive, integrated training program which will introduce you to the major support functions of a full-service law firm, including conflict analysis, library services, and a range of software and technology tools. You will be invited to attend practice group meetings, in-house training, continuing legal education presentations, and seminars. An attorney mentor will be assigned to you and will help you become acclimated to your local office and the firm as a whole. To assist with your self-evaluation and career planning, you will receive feedback on each project, as well as performance evaluations at the midpoint and end of the program. Finally, in addition to consultations with your mentor, a Professional Staff Liaison — a member of our Recruiting Committee — will hold weekly progress meetings with you and your fellow Summer Associates and will be available for one-on-one meetings.
Real Work
Clark Hill Summer Associates are provided the same supportive, challenging work environment as that of first-year associates; no distinction is made in work assignments, client contact, development, or responsibilities. Much of your work will come from your assigned practice group, but you will also gain a comprehensive sense of the firm through assignments from different practice groups and offices in the firm.
Pro Bono
At Clark Hill, we do well by doing good. We encourage all of our attorneys, from senior partners to Summer Associates, to perform pro bono work and contribute time and resources to public-service and charitable activities. Our attorneys and staff also participate in the “Clark Hill Cares” program, a community-involvement effort that includes fundraising events, sponsorships, and service opportunities.
Diversity and Inclusion
To attract and retain a diverse group of professionals and promote inclusion throughout the firm, our Diversity and Inclusion Committee works with firm leadership to support existing programs and recommend new initiatives. Clark Hill sponsors numerous events for minority-attorney and other organizations and our attorneys and staff are involved in a wide array of professional associations. We offer domestic partnership benefits, parental leave, reduced work arrangements, and career-pathing, among other programs and policies, to support the career prospects of our diverse team.
Our Firm and Summer Program Locations
Clark Hill provides distinctive solutions to a diverse range of businesses, public entities, and individuals, nationally and internationally. Our purpose is clear: to provide the best client service and guide clients to paths that generate growth and success. The following offices will be participating in the 2024 Summer Associate Program: Birmingham, MI (Litigation); Collin County, TX (Litigation); Dallas, TX (Bankruptcy, Healthcare and Litigation); Detroit, MI (Construction and Litigation)
The Social Side
Our unique culture of collegiality is one of the things that truly sets us apart from our peers, as we all seek to balance our professional and personal lives. Formal social activities are planned throughout our Summer Associate Program so that our attorneys and Summer Associates get to know each other outside of our offices and conference rooms. Each year, our Summer Associates tell us that we strike the right balance between after-work events and workdays devoted to client assignments and professional development.
Applying for the 2024 Summer Associate Program
Who we are hiring
For our 2024 Summer Associate Program, we will hire law students who will graduate in either December 2024 or May 2025. Generally, the 2024 Summer Associate Program is intended for law students whose last summer before graduation is the Summer of 2024.
Where we are hiring
We are looking to hire Summer Associates to join us in the following offices:
- Birmingham, MI
- Collin County, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Detroit, MI
We anticipate extending offers to our 2024 Summer Associates to join us as full-time associates in the following business units:
- Bankruptcy (Dallas, TX)
- Construction (Detroit, MI)
- Healthcare (Dallas, TX)
- Litigation (Birmingham/Detroit, MI; Collin County/Dallas, TX)
What documents are required to apply
All candidates are required to submit the following materials:
- Cover Letter (Please indicate your preferred office location and business unit.)
- Resume
- Law School Transcript (The transcript must include your Spring 2023 term grades.)
- Writing Sample of not more than 5 pages (If the writing sample is the argument section of a longer paper, you may include an introductory paragraph.)
How to apply
To apply, please click here. The application deadline will be July 14, 2023. Each position will be posted separately, so please search for the specific position(s) you are interested in.
We are participating in the Fall Recruitment Programs at the following law schools and community events:
- Baylor Law School
- Duquesne University School of Law
- Howard University School of Law
- Michigan State University College of Law
- Notre Dame Law School
- Southern Methodist University School of Law
- Texas A&M University School of Law
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
- University of Michigan Law School
- University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- University of Texas School of Law
- Wayne State University Law School
- West Virginia University College of Law
If you attend a law school listed above and wish to be considered for our 2024 Summer Associate Program, you must participate in your law school’s Fall Recruitment program. Please do not apply to Clark Hill directly.
Contact Information
If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us at awycech@clarkhill.com
Clark Hill PLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer