Summer Associate Program

Overview

McDonough's summer associate program is designed to provide each summer associate with an introduction to three of our practice areas, an educational experience with law in the "real world," and an opportunity to participate in the working environment at McDonough Holland & Allen PC.

The Recruiting Committee, comprised of shareholders, associates, and Of Counsels, and the Human Resources Director, conducts on-campus interviews at McGeorge, U.C. Davis, Boalt Hall, Hastings and Santa Clara University law schools and hires second-year law students to participate in its 10-week summer associate program. We also hire one first-year law student from the Summer Fellowship Program of the Sacramento County Bar Association's Diversity Hiring and Retention Program.

We are always interested in receiving resumes from law students throughout the country who are interested in our firm and in practicing law in Sacramento. Students not interviewed through the on-campus interview process should submit their application materials to our Human Resources Director by September 15th so they can be included in the fall recruiting program.

Compensation, Work Hours, Billable Hours, and Parking

The salary for summer associates is $6,000 per month (less applicable payroll taxes and deductions).

The 10-week summer program typically begins at the end of May and ends the first week in August. Working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Summer associates have a 27.5 billable hours goal per week. This goal is not a requirement; rather, it is a benchmark designed to provide the summer associates with a gauge for their workday or workweek. It also provides them with an opportunity to learn how to track their billable time.

Parking is paid for by the firm, and summer associates receive a monthly parking permit. If a summer associate commutes to work by means other than a car, the firm will provide a transportation incentive which can be used to purchase a bus, Light Rail or BART pass or to pay for other personal transportation expenses.

Assignments and Feedback

Summer associates have an opportunity to work in three of the firm's Practice Groups of their choice. During each Practice Group assignment, summer associates will have a Supervising Shareholder who will monitor their workload and help provide assignments that introduce them to the practice area. Summer associates may also receive assignments from other shareholders and associates within the Practice Group. Whenever possible, attorneys will invite summer associates to attend trials, hearings, depositions, client meetings, seminars, luncheons, and professional and civic/charitable events.

We emphasize providing timely written feedback to the summer associates on each assignment they complete. At the end of each Practice Group assignment, the associate will attend an evaluation session with the Supervising Shareholder to review the individual reports furnished by attorneys during that period. At the end of the summer program, all attorneys are invited to evaluate the summer associates on their comprehension of problems, legal analysis, legal research, writing clarity, oral expression, efficiency, initiative, and their relationship with lawyers and staff. The Chair of the Recruiting Committee conducts a final review session with each summer associate prior to his or her departure. The firm usually makes decisions regarding offers for entry-level positions for the following year at the end of August; those decisions are based on the summer associate's performance and the workloads and hiring needs of our Practice Groups.

Mentors

Each summer associate is assigned an associate mentor who will arrange for the summer associate to meet and interact with our attorneys and staff in a casual setting. Summer associates are also invited to all firm events, monthly attorney luncheons, Practice Group meetings, and associate meetings.

Social Events

The Recruiting Committee and Practice Groups organize several social events to give summer associates an opportunity to meet and interact with our attorneys and staff in a casual setting. Summer associates are also invited to all firm events, monthly attorney luncheons, Practice Group meetings, and associate meetings.

2009 Summer Associates

From left to right: Shannon Shrewsbury, Ashley Emerzian and Elizabeth Thygeson.

How to Apply

Submit the following application materials to McDonough's Summer Associate Program no later than September 15th for consideration into the following year's program to recruiting@mhalaw.com.

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Law school transcript
• Short writing sample
• List of references

Your application materials should also include the following information:

• Dates of educational background and prior employment
• Extracurricular activities
• Experience outside the law
• Connections with Sacramento or Bay Area
• Knowledge about our firm and practice areas