Frequently Asked Questions
What are your hiring criteria for summer associates?
Do you have a summer program in your Washington or Springfield offices?
What is the size of your summer program and how long does it last?
Do you hire first-year law students?
Do you allow split summers?
What is the compensation for summer associates?
How is work assigned?
How are summer associates evaluated?
What type of training do you provide?
Do you allow summer associates the opportunity to do pro bono work?
At which schools and job fairs do you interview?
Do I have to choose a particular practice area at the beginning of the summer? What if I am unsure of the area in which I would like to practice?
What’s the work like?
What social activities can I expect?
How many summer associates will receive offers to return as associates?
What are your hiring criteria for summer associates?
We seek students who can take immediate responsibility, who are highly motivated, mature, intelligent, enthusiastic, well-rounded, team-oriented, and self starting, and have the potential to become great lawyers. We look not only for superior academic performance, but also previous work history, excellent interpersonal skills, and extracurricular activities demonstrating leadership abilities. Other factors such as law review/journal experience and moot court are favorably viewed. We seek well-rounded, intelligent individuals with a high level of enthusiasm.
Do you have a summer program in your Washington or Springfield offices?
At this time only our Chicago office has a summer program.
What is the size of your summer program and how long does it last?
Our program typically consists of 4 summer associates and lasts for 12 weeks.
Do you hire first-year law students?
We do not have a program for first-year law students, but we encourage them to contact us when they are second-year law students.
Do you allow split summers?
We strongly prefer that summer associates spend the duration of their summer with us, as we feel that it is the best way for them to become fully integrated into the program. We do, however, consider split summers on a case-by-case basis.
What is the compensation for summer associates?
Compensation for our summer associates is typically based on that of our first-year associates, prorated on a biweekly basis.
How is work assigned?
The head of our summer program is responsible for screening, assigning, and monitoring projects submitted by attorneys in all of our practice areas. They will make sure that the work assignments are challenging and provide exposure to the various practice areas. This screening also ensures that all projects are duly suited to realistic deadlines and appropriate timeframes that will enable the summer associates to seek other interesting assignments.
How are summer associates evaluated?
An important part of the summer learning experience is to receive feedback. Each assigning attorney must complete a detailed evaluation form for each project assigned which the Summer Committee then reviews. Mid-season reviews are conducted to monitor each summer associate’s progress; however any special concerns are reviewed more often if necessary to provide ample opportunity to identify any special need for improvement.
What type of training do you provide?
We offer in-house basic skills seminars in addition to our ongoing litigation and corporate training programs. Summer associates also have the opportunity to observe and participate in client meetings, depositions, hearings, trials and closings. We use this participation to provide a context for the “big picture” that relates to the summer assignments.
Do you allow summer associates the opportunity to do pro bono work?
Yes. We encourage and facilitate all of our attorneys to dedicate themselves to pro bono work and community service and we count up to 50 hours of this time as billable equivalent hours. Summer associates are encouraged to participate in our pro bono efforts. We believe that it is important that, as attorneys, we acknowledge our professional status and privileges by giving back to our communities a portion of our time and talent.
At which schools and job fairs do you interview?
We currently conduct interviews at the following schools and job fairs:
- Chicago-Kent College of Law
- DePaul University College of Law
- John Marshall Law School
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law
- Northwestern University School of Law
- Notre Dame Law School
- University of Chicago Law School
- University of Illinois College of Law
- University of Michigan Law School
- University of Wisconsin Law School
- Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair
If we do not conduct interviews at your school, you may send your resume directly to us.
Do I have to choose a particular practice area at the beginning of the summer? What if I am unsure of the area in which I would like to practice?
No. We provide assignments that cover most of our practice areas that do not presume special, prior substantive experience. We do not dictate a rotation among our practice groups, as we have found that our summer associates benefit more when allowed to shape the breadth and focus of their assignment bases.
What’s the work like?
The primary focus of any firm is providing clients with high-quality representation, and Ungaretti & Harris is no exception. On the transactional side, this typically involves gathering information, analyzing the legal aspects of various business options and preparing the appropriate documentation. In litigation, such work typically involves either representing the client in disputes or providing advice designed to help the client avoid, minimize or manage future liability. An understanding of relevant law is critical in both areas. Research and drafting of memoranda, motions and briefs will thus be a large part of a summer associate's experience. Depending upon what matters are in the office, summer associates may also have the opportunity to participate in factual investigation on behalf of the client, including client/witness interviews and document review. Associates will also observe (and participate in to the degree possible) any depositions, negotiations, drafting sessions, closings, trials or hearings then in progress.
What social activities can I expect?
The Firm hosts a number of activities designed to strengthen and foster relations among department members and to give the summer associates a chance to get to know the partners, associates and one another outside of the office setting. These activities include a bowling outing, a boat cruise, a cocktail party at a trendy Chicago restaurant with a band, dinner parties, baseball games (including a rooftop event), Ravinia and periodic smaller-scale expeditions.
How many summer associates will receive offers to return as associates?
Our objective is to make offers to each of the summer associates who participate in our program. We maintain a smaller program specifically designed to foster this goal so that summer associates are not competing for a few available positions.
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