Dykema provides law students with the opportunity to experience the practice of law at our firm through our summer associate program. Participants receive a detailed, realistic view of the firm, its lawyers and the social and cultural aspects of the communities in which our offices are located. Our firm's tradition of flexibility also applies to our summer program. Summer associates can choose to receive assignments from all areas of the firm, or to narrow their assignments to specific practice groups or areas of interest. Several members and associates monitor and distribute assignments. They also meet with the summer associates at least once a week to discuss assignments and workloads, as well as substantive and procedural questions. In addition, each summer associate receives orientation and support throughout the summer from member and associate advisors. We encourage all Dykema lawyers to give summer associates as much feedback as possible. In addition to the feedback provided to the summer associates directly by the attorneys, the program coordinators formally seek it from the assignors after the completion of each project.

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Summer associates work on a wide variety of projects and assignments, spending significant time in non-research activities. They help prepare briefs, pleadings, memoranda, opinion letters and other legal documents.

Sample Summer Associate Assignments

• Assist client in stock purchase acquisition. Research shareholder rights, advise client on consent issues; draft proxy and ancillary transaction documents; attend client meetings to discuss employee morale and retention strategy.
• Write research memorandum re patent validity searches under the attorney-client privilege and attorney work product doctrines.
• Review of commercial acquisition documents and attend closing.
• Research constitutionality of tribal-state gaming compacts entered into between the State of Michigan and federally-recognized tribes.
• Draft comparison of environmental laws in Michigan and Windsor, Ontario.
• Memo examining whether new medical procedure involving fitness equipment is experimental or investigational. Involves research at medical and law schools and meeting with representatives of Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
• Research choice of entity issues addressing the most advantageous means, from both a tax and business perspective, of operating the U.S. tour of a famous European performer.
• Research and assist in the drafting of a bill to authorize the creation of business improvement districts in cities in Michigan.
• Prepare responses to office actions of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on pending patent and trademark applications.
• Attend working group meetings to develop financial structure and transaction logistics of municipal bond issuance.

Available work includes pro bono assignments and the opportunity to participate in a legal services clinic. Dykema has joined the Summer Associates' Initiative for Legal Services (SAILS), a program that provides funding for legal services for the poor and allows individual firms to highlight their pro bono activities in discussions with their summer associates. Summer associates also participate in corporate closings, client conferences, depositions, court hearings, labor arbitrations, trials, real estate syndications and estate planning. Summer associates also attend information and training sessions presented by each practice group and team, and are invited to attend additional group and team meetings throughout the summer. Summer associates in our Michigan offices attend a seminar hosted by the Lansing office that features guest speakers from the political and legal arenas.

Through a variety of social activities held in a more casual atmosphere, summer associates become even better acquainted with us and the areas in which we practice. Summer associates are invited to functions at the homes of members and associates. Group outings include picnics and concerts, as well as baseball games, whirlyball, golf and boating on Lake St. Clair. We are proud of the superb recreational and cultural resources in Michigan, and want summer associates to enjoy them with us.