Advice
- Professionalism Primer
- Dressing for Interviews, Receptions, and Work
- From Student to Associate: Navigating the Transition
- Understand Performance Evaluations
Resources
- Hotshot Legal uses short videos to teach a range of legal and business topics. See Self-Directed Learning with Hotshot for information about signing up. Hotshot’s videos provide simple explanations of complex concepts. Topics include Accounting & Finance, M&A Basics, Excel & Data Analysis, and Venture Financing, and new content is continually added.
- The HotShot’s Professionalism & Communication series will build essential professional skills that will help you succeed in summer positions, clinics, and your career as a lawyer.
- Watch Starting Strong: Core Skills for Summer Associates and enter your summer associate role with confidence and professionalism by focusing on the skills that firms expect from day one.
- Watch Foundations for New Associates: Communication & Professional Skills as you transition from full-time student to full-time attorney and leverage the skills you need to succeed in the professional world.
- Prepare to Practice program by LexisNexis. This tutorial is designed to help students master some of the practical skills you need to arrive practice ready on day one.
- Developing the Professional Lawyer – Student Tip Videos. Created by the National Association for Law Placement, these interactive e-learning modules are a simple way to help you focus on some of the core elements of professionalism.
- Bloomberg Law produces short videos that shed light on the economic models and structures of major law firms.
Podcasts and Videos
| TITLE | FORMAT |
|---|---|
| Managing the First Years of Your Law Firm Career | Video |
| Summer Success in a Remote Setting | Video |
| How a Law Firm is Run and Why it Matters to You Julie Jones, Chair of Ropes and Gray | Video |
| How a Law Firm is Run and Why it Matters to you Kevyn Orr, Partner-in-Charge Washington, Jones Day | Video |
Updates from Hire Ground
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Requesting Permission to Use Work Product as a Writing Sample
If you are hoping to use a writing project from this summer’s job as a writing sample for future job searches, including judicial clerkships, you will need to ask permission. Before you leave the job, ask permission to take redacted versions of the written work product with you to use as a writing sample. If
July 23, 2026
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Show Gratitude
As your summer employment winds down, remember to show your gratitude to those individuals who have helped you this summer, including attorneys and staff. Whether they taught you something new, patiently answered your questions, or made your life easier in some way, reach out and let them know you are grateful for their help. It’s
July 23, 2026
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Handling Law Firm Offer and Clerkships
As you wrap up your summer job, many of you may be anticipating an offer from a law firm in the coming weeks. If you are still seeking a clerkship, please see Offer from Law Firm While Seeking Clerkship for nuanced guidance. We encourage you not to give up on a clerkship search prematurely, as
July 16, 2026
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How to Handle an “Exit” Interview
At the end of your summer program, you may be asked to meet with a member of the recruiting team to discuss your time with the firm. Keep in mind that your comments will likely be considered when evaluating your candidacy with that employer. Remain positive- hopefully it will be easy to do so. Remember,
July 16, 2026
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Make the Most of Your Remaining Weeks
With a few weeks left in your summer job, now is the time to be intentional. Take stock: what did you hope to learn, who did you hope to meet, and what kind of work did you hope to try? Then, do your best to make those things happen if they have not already. Ask
July 9, 2026