Our Summer Associate Program attracts talented and motivated law students from across the country. For 10 weeks, law students get an exclusive level of exposure to the firm, and the opportunity to work alongside our members and associates, directly with and for our clients. Through a variety of substantive work, training, mentorship, networking, and social opportunities, our summer associates will get a sense of what it is to be a Hawsons attorney.
Work Assignments & Feedback
Summer Associates are given work through a distribution system based on availability and interest. Summer Associates are included on deal teams, conference calls, in mediations, and at hearings.
Our Summer Associates can expect consistent formal and informal feedback from their mentors, supervising attorneys on assignments, and the firm’s Hiring Partners. Summer Associates will have a formal mid-term and final reviews to discuss their performance and experience.
Mentors
Selected in advance based on students’ practice group interests, summer associates are assigned two mentors: a firm associate and a member. Mentors are a valuable resource to the Summer Associates. Throughout the summer, mentors connect, guide, and teach their mentees throughout the summer and in the years to follow.
Social
Outside of the office, our Summer Associates will have countless opportunities to see what the Queen City has to offer! Our Summer Associate social calendar is packed with cocktails and dinners, cooking classes, sporting events and cultural activities.
FAQs
To view FAQs, click here.
2L Summer Program Opportunities
We realize there are talented law students we may not meet through on-campus interviews or our Summer Associate program. If you are interested in applying for a position, please complete our online application. Due to the volume of resumes we receive, unfortunately we cannot respond to all applicants.
1L Summer Program Opportunities
Hawsons’s annual Diversity Conference is a one-day seminar designed to introduce first-year law students to leaders and career opportunities in the legal industry. Students are selected through a competitive application process and gain exposure to the climate of diversity in the legal industry through various networking opportunities, interactive panels, and presentations from Hawsons members, clients, and other leaders in the legal profession.
The application process is open to all first-year law students regardless of race, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military service, disability, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable law.
Launched in January 2019, Hawsons’s Diversity Scholarship Program is a unique summer employment opportunity for law students. Open to all first-year law students, we evaluate candidates based on their academic performance, communication skills, demonstrated leadership qualities, work experience, and community involvement. Selected students will have the opportunity to participate in the firm’s 10-week summer associate program and may receive up to $35,000 in additional scholarship money.
The application process is open to all first-year law students regardless of race, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military service, disability, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable law.
Other 1L Summer Program Opportunities
Although we principally recruit second-year law students for our summer associate program, we consider first-year law students on a limited basis when the firm is seeking individuals with specialized experience that fits the Firm’s practice needs at the time. Additional 1L opportunities for the 2025 summer program will go live in early 2025. Please return at this time to view the application. Due to the volume of applications, applicants may not receive a response.
The application process is open to all first-year law students regardless of race, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military service, disability, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable law.
Entry-Level Attorneys
We realize there are talented students we may not have met through our summer associate program. If you are interested in applying for a position as a first-year associate, please completed our online application. In order for your application to be complete, please attach your résumé to the application and specify the office(s) in which you are interested. All attachments must be in Word format.