Assignments
-
Strategy Crash-Course at Weil
By Wesley ShekerJuly 22, 2022NEW YORK – As a summer associate at Weil, I had the opportunity to begin working on active deals and cases right away. In addition to providing training and mentorship on the mechanics of particular assignments, the associates and partners I worked with provided a crash course on the overall strategy of the deals and cases I was assigned to and how they related to the work I was doing. One highlight of this summer included sitting in on a board meeting conference call with a partner, who afterwards discussed some of the ongoing legal tactics that came up during the call and answered questions I had about the deal.…
-
Law in Real Life
By Jamie MichaelJuly 8, 2022I will never forget the butterflies in my stomach when my Civil Procedure professor called my name on the first day of law school. Beginning with that initial, nerve-wracking cold call 1L year, law students are being trained to become attorneys. There will be countless cases read and outlines created during law school (not to mention numerous more cold calls), but the end goal, for many, is to practice the subject matter our professors teach. During the Summer Associate Program at Weil, I have had the opportunity to work on assignments that bring to life legal topics I had previously only read about in casebooks. In my Corporate rotation, I…
-
Hats Off to Weil
By Emily ShlafmitzJune 17, 2022Attorneys wear many hats: negotiator, investigator, advisor (to name a few). But for me, the most intriguing hat of all is that of performer. Whether it be in front of a judge or jury, sometimes lawyers get to take center stage and show off their performing skills. So, when I found out that I’d be participating in a deposition training exercise with my fellow Summer Associates, I knew this was my chance to put on my performing hat. To prepare for our mock depositions, each Summer Associate was given a set of materials including a fictional case file and tips for deposing a witness. I read through the materials and…
-
This is New York!
By Jacob AubrechtMay 27, 2022One of the things that makes New York City a world-renown metropolis is its distinct intensity. Everything, from boarding a subway to negotiating in the boardroom is executed with a degree of gusto that can only be found in the Big Apple. Combine this remarkable intensity with Weil’s excitement for hosting their first in-person summer program in two years, and you start to get an idea of what the Summer Associates of 2022 walked into. The events, both substantive and social, have exceeded the expectations set forth by my legal network. In just two weeks I have had the privilege to get coffee or lunch with thought leaders in different…
-
A Southerner’s Summer in the City
By Lee Patrick EllisMay 20, 2022Moving from a town of three thousand people to a city with almost eight and a half million residents is fairly daunting. Fortunately, Weil’s summer program has made the adjustment easy. The firm helped me secure housing for the summer and plan my travel to the city. Weil’s summer program has events for every interest. Each week is filed with opportunities to socialize with members of the Firm’s practice groups and fellow summer associates at dinners, shows, concerts, and other events. Outside of the formal program structure, partners and associates at the firm are approachable and willing to share recommendations for their favorite restaurants and places to visit. The best…
-
The Weil, Weil White Plains
By Ian HawkesJuly 29, 2019I always heard that I should take advantage of any observational opportunities that I can during the summer program, so when I was invited to sit in on a proceeding in a federal bankruptcy court in White Plains, New York, I was both excited and curious as to what I would experience. My only conception of what actually went on inside a courtroom came from what I learned in law school and T.V. shows, so I really had no idea what it would be like. The appearance and atmosphere of the courtroom was about what I expected, albeit more laid back than courtrooms on television. What surprised me was the…
-
Weil Believes in You
By Ava MunsonJuly 22, 2019When I began my Corporate rotation at Weil, I was frankly quite nervous. Besides a basic corporations class at law school, I was unfamiliar with corporate law and thus doubted whether I would be able to excel in this rotation. As I tried to unscramble the differences between mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and private funds, I felt self-conscious about my lack of knowledge and so initially held back from asking for help. However, I was lucky to have a very supportive summer sibling (a junior associate mentor) with whom I felt comfortable confiding in and she urged me to simply grab coffees with junior associates and to ask them…
-
A Weil Variety of Assignments
By Blake SteinbergJuly 15, 2019I was able to work on a wide range of assignments during my Litigation Department rotation, which allowed for a very effective introduction to the department. Over the course of my rotation, I researched issues related to intellectual property, bankruptcy, e-Discovery, privacy, and antitrust law. I also received opportunities to draft different types of documents, including an update to a treatise, two versions of a memo relevant to an ongoing case, material for inclusion in a motion to dismiss, and a slide deck for a presentation to a client. These assignments all provided a great introduction to what the work of a junior associate in the department might involve. Some…
-
Fun in Private Funds
By Brian IngramJuly 1, 2019One of the great things about the Weil Summer Program is the ability to rotate through more than one department. During my first six weeks, I rotated through the Corporate Department. While you may come in knowing you want to be either transactional or litigation, rotating through multiple groups can open your eyes to new areas of the law or confirm your initial views. Personally, rotating has done both. I came in really interested in the Private Equity practice. Through my experience, I have had the opportunity to listen on phone calls, draft ancillary documents, and learn about the strategy and structure behind high-powered deals. I confirmed my interest in…
-
Banking on Career Development
By Dominic IacoziliJune 17, 2019Prior to joining the Summer Program, I identified the Banking & Finance practice as a particular interest of mine. Before attending law school, I worked in banking and hoped to build upon this experience in my legal career. Early in my eight-week rotation in the Corporate Department, I was given the opportunity to take on two Banking & Finance assignments. The first assignment allowed me to gain exposure to representing a borrower, whereas my second assignment focused on a lender-side representation. Through these experiences, I gained an introductory perspective for the complexities involved in acting as counsel for sophisticated credit facilities for multi-national corporations. The assignments have confirmed my interest…
-
MEMOries
By Emily RossJune 7, 2019Prior to starting this summer at Weil, I did not know what to expect regarding the substance of our assignments. I was prepared to do a lot of legal research and write numerous formal emails. What I did not expect was the depth of work that I received within the first few weeks, and the intriguing matter I would be working on. My first rotation was litigation, and I have been working on a few large cases. While my first week was mainly focused on case law research and drafting formal emails, during my third week, I received an email from a very senior partner, asking me to come meet…
-
Weil Corporate: Pro-Business & Pro Bono
By Olivia WalsethJune 7, 2019One of the hundreds of questions I had prior to starting the Summer Program was whether transactional lawyers in the Corporate Department ever have the opportunity to do pro bono work. At most law schools, pro bono work is highly encouraged, and the New York State Bar Association even requires that 50 hours of work be completed before an applicant may be admitted to the Bar. However, in law school, most pro bono opportunities occur in the context of litigation. Because pro bono is such an important part of any law student’s life, I feared that my corporate rotation would present no opportunities to do pro bono work. However, that’s…
-
A Little While at Weil
By Tom YuJune 7, 2019It’s early June, and three weeks have passed since the Weil summer program started. While I am constantly awed by the stunning Central Park view, what is more remarkable is the collegiality of Weil New York. From the first day of the program, Weil has sent an unequivocal message that Weil truly values respect, collaboration and friendship. I have felt welcomed by every person I interacted with, whether it be attorneys in or outside of my practice group. Everyone is willing to take time out of his or her busy schedule and go to lunch or coffee with me, give advice on my last year in law school and answer…
-
Observing a Weil Oiled Machine
By Avi TennenbergJune 7, 2019The summer associate program has exceeded my expectations, from the numerous lunches and events to the inviting environment amongst the associates. Everyone told me to enjoy the summer associate experience and also get a “feel” for what type of law I want to practice in the future. The balancing act between these two interests has been achieved with both substantive assignments and observational opportunities. Each new project I am staffed on comes with helpful instructions from the associates on the deal. The little things gleaned through the assignments are obviously helpful in becoming a better lawyer, but the greatest experience has been the observational opportunities. Sitting in on meetings with…
-
A Weil-Rounded Firm
By Emma McBrideMay 31, 2019A little less than a year ago, I came to Weil’s New York office for my Summer Associate interview. Recently, a partner asked me why I decided to come to Weil. I told him I remember walking through the halls with a very prominent partner during my interview and saw the partner greet everyone that walked by and knew many of the administrative staff by name. Although this may seem to be a very inconsequential event, I knew from that moment that this was a firm I wanted to be part of. Everyone was friendly, respectful, and open. I saw with my own eyes that each person at this firm,…
-
Meeting the Partners in the Oak Room
By Christopher ChanMay 31, 2019This past week, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet many of the Weil partners during the Summer Program Kick-Off reception. While I had previously met quite a few of the corporate department’s partners over the course of various practice group receptions, lunches, coffees, and assignments, I really appreciated the opportunity to be able to meet Weil partners from across all of the different departments in a more relaxed social setting. I found it invaluable to hear advice from various partners on how to make the most of the summer program and get the best exposure to the firm’s different practice areas during my time here. I fully enjoyed chatting…
-
Picking a Practice Group
By Kathryn AdamsonMay 31, 2019Unsure of what practice area I wanted to join at Weil, I worried about having to make that choice at the end of my summer. So, I chose to rotate through three departments – Business Finance and Restructuring (“BFR”), Corporate, and Litigation—in order to try a variety of practice areas. My concerns about choosing a practice area quickly evaporated upon my first rotation with the BFR Group. I was immediately staffed on substantive assignments such as researching novel legal issues, drafting research memos, and helping write portions of a brief. And even though I have no background in bankruptcy, each attorney provided a background of the cases to which I…
-
Day in the Life – Expert Deposition Prep
By Brigit CrosbieMay 31, 2019One of the best experiences of my summer associate program so far has been the in depth observational experiences I’ve had. I had the opportunity to sit in on an expert deposition preparation session and it was fascinating to see all the strategy that it entailed. I had the opportunity to read the expert report beforehand, which was dense and complicated. It was amazing to see the skill Weil attorneys had in taking a dense expert report and animating it with human emotion and experience. I was also so impressed at the depth of the understanding the attorneys had about the complexities of the report and their ability to guide…
-
Worthwhile Observations at Weil
By Kathryn LeightMay 31, 2019Since the moment I arrived and throughout my first two weeks as a summer associate, I have had several exciting observational assignments related to a complex case. Only moments after arriving on my first day, my assignment coordinator dropped by my office to invite me to attend witness preparation that was about to begin. My first two days were largely spent observing this witness preparation alongside two associates and a partner, with the discussion primarily led by an associate. The following week I observed a deposition taken by an associate. Throughout the last two weeks I have attended multiple conference calls with associates and partners from Weil offices across the…
-
You Are What You Say You Are
By Julia DimitradisMay 31, 2019As I write this, I have been at Weil for only 16 days. In that time I have worked on an M&A matter, two capital markets deals (one debt and one equity), and have been staffed on no less than three structured finance projects, not to mention the two pro bono matters I am staffed on. That is eight projects in sixteen days. My contemporaries at other firms have asked how I managed to get on so many things when they are struggling to get one meaningful project. The answer is that I asked for it. On my first day, a group of associates swung by our office to take…
-
The Best of Both Worlds at Weil
By Griffin BakerMay 31, 2019During my first year at law school, my classmates told me that summer jobs were a joke. I learned that I would get half-hearted busy work and spend the summer having fun. Well, my fellow students were wrong about the busy work. Weil’s attorneys make sure to give me real and interesting work. I get to sit in on real calls and listen as big deals are put together. A partner even let me take the first stab at drafting a subscription agreement (an agreement to buy shares in a company). What’s so refreshing about Weil’s summer program is how practical it is. As law students, we spend years sitting…
-
Summer Assignments: Ask & You Shall Receive
By Kate SwainMay 24, 2019For me, one of Weil’s major selling points was the opportunity to sample rewarding, substantive work across a range of practice areas while centering on your personal interests. Even by week two, I’ve begun to see the firm deliver on that promise. During my second weekly check-in meeting with my assignment coordinator, I mentioned that I would be interested in getting involved in any pro bono cases that are active within the litigation group. Within a few hours, my coordinator got in touch with me to let me know she had added me to the team on an asylum case for the remainder of my litigation rotation. The associate on…
-
A Weil-Tailored Summer Experience
By Alex XiaoMay 20, 2019The summer associate experience at almost every law firm has two components: the work and the people. We have the opportunity to not only explore what legal work is like at a big law firm, but also get to know the people at the Firm, build mentorships and friendships, and decide whether this is the place where we can become more well-rounded and capable professionals. Four days in, I know Weil has tailored its summer experience to help me achieve just these goals. On the work end, every assignment I have received has been carefully thought through by the supervising attorneys to fit the needs, interest and capability of a…
-
Musings on My First Day
By Alex TheuerMay 20, 2019Starting a new job is sometimes intimidating, especially as a summer associate. Weil plans an orientation for your first few days as a summer, which is very well-organized and informative. After that, the summer experience truly begins – and I’m here to tell you about my first day on my own at the Firm. I walked into work that day with no assignments, but I didn’t have to wait long – I hadn’t even reached my office when I saw an email on my phone from my assignment coordinator. I was assigned on three matters and was advised to reach out to the partners and associates I would be working…
-
Rotational Programs Round out Your Legal World
By Ali OlsewskiJuly 2, 2018One of the many advantages of the Weil Summer Associate Program is the ability to choose at least two of the firm’s four overarching departments to rotate through. I chose to complete eight weeks in litigation, followed by four weeks in BFR. During my eight weeks in litigation I have had the opportunity to work on assignments for almost every practice group within the department from Securities Litigation to Products Liability, and Complex Commercial Litigation to Employment. The firm overall has a very collegial culture, and receiving work from the many different litigation groups just elucidated for me that each practice group has its own unique personality that matches the…
-
Genuine Matters, Genuine People
By Kaitlin BondJune 25, 2018Before beginning my summer associate experience at Weil, I had little idea of what to expect or how I would fare working at a top tier firm. I soon came to realize that Weil is much more than its headline deals. While the matters and work at Weil are nothing short of exciting, the partners and associates at Weil also genuinely care about summer associates’ experiences, both inside and outside of the office. During the first half of my summer, I had the opportunity to work directly with a partner, receiving substantive feedback. I also worked on and saw a deal through from start to closing, and was treated by the…
-
We Are All on the Same Team
By Ryan WalkerJune 25, 2018While there are plenty of Weil summer social events that I have truly enjoyed, I believe that it is the genuine interest that the partners and associates have expressed in helping me shape my future career at Weil that has been the most rewarding experience for me thus far. As I close out my first six week rotation in the Corporate Department I cannot believe the opportunities that I have had. In the past six weeks I have had pleasure of working directly with several partners including the head of the Banking & Finance practice and the head of the entire Corporate Department. Every partner I have worked with thus…
-
Five-Star Reviews: Formal and Informal Feedback
By Molly MacDougallJune 25, 2018BOSTON – During orientation, we learned that we would have two formal reviews during the summer – one halfway through and one at the end, in addition to receiving feedback on each assignment in real time. The last few weeks flew by, and last week brought midsummer reviews for the summer associates in the Boston office. While I was nervous about sitting down with my reviewing partner and discussing my work, I really did know what to expect, because I had been able to debrief assignments with people along the way. The partner began my review with a discussion of why the firm values having multiple formal reviews every year.…
-
Two-Week Summer Pro Bono Externship at Weil
By Basil WilliamsJune 18, 2018Earlier this summer, I did a pro bono externship for two weeks, where I assisted on housing cases. Weil provides summer associates with the opportunity to do pro bono work for two weeks over the summer in another legal organization. In my externship, I had the opportunity to write a brief, draft a complaint, conduct an intake interview with a client, observe oral argument in a New York Supreme Court case, attend hearings in Housing Court, and research housing policy in New York City.
-
Court Visit by Day, Spy Museum at Night
By Bita GhiasiJune 11, 2018During my first five weeks at Weil, I had the opportunity to not only gain exposure to the practice groups that I was interested in through both substantive work and observational assignments, but also to become acquainted with the firm’s culture through a variety of social events. During my litigation rotation, I was given the opportunity to accompany a partner in the Southern District Court of New York to observe a hearing which covered a settlement for a securities class action and derivative suits. Before the hearing, the partner took the time to provide me with a complete overview of the case and described the key nuances that I should…
-
Rotating through BFR – Robust Experience & Real Matters
By Candice EllisJune 11, 2018I am a summer associate based in the New York office. My summer at Weil consists of a four-week rotation through BFR, a two-week foreign rotation through the Weil Paris Office, and a six-week rotation through the litigation department. As I write this post, I sit in the Weil Paris Office where I will spend the next two weeks shadowing French practitioners; and observing deals, negotiations, and tribunals. I am especially excited to learn more about the nature of restructuring and insolvency work in Paris, as compared to the States. When I was interviewing at firms, I often heard a similar mantra: “at XYZ firm you will have a robust…
-
Strikes and Spares and Structured Finance
By Noah SchwartzJune 11, 2018One of the best features of Weil’s summer program is the ability to try out different practice group areas. Even for someone like myself who is inclined towards litigation. As part of the summer program we are required to rotate through at least two different departments. Summer associates are exposed to a wide range of matters, not only through formal work assignments but also social events throughout the summer. Social events and informal gatherings can be just as good of an opportunity to learn about different practice groups. This past Monday, Weil’s corporate department invited all summer associates rotating through the corporate department for an evening of food, drink and…
-
Coffee: More than Caffeine
By Wallis LinkerJune 11, 2018BOSTON – During my first year of law school, in my attempt to figure out what I ultimately wanted my career path to look like, I would talk to students who had finished the summer after their 2L year, trying to gauge what being a Summer Associate at a ‘Big Law’ firm was actually like. Of course I would hear about the work, the complexity of the matters, and the hands on legal education you cannot receive in a classroom. But, what was always mentioned without fail, was how incredible the “Summer Events” were. I heard about concerts, and happy hours, and scavenger hunts, and Broadway shows; I heard about…
-
All Hands on Deck
By Yonatan ShefaJune 4, 2018After learning that Weil’s summer program lasts for twelve weeks, I remember thinking that three months sounds like a long summer. I could not have been more wrong. Four weeks are now behind me, and I am concluding my first rotation in litigation when I could easily go for another four weeks. Still, even in four weeks, I have had the chance to see so much and become part of the team. One of the great aspects of each rotation is that you are given an observational assignment. In the context of litigation, that means becoming acquainted with a specific case, and attending regular team meetings, hearings, or depositions. I…
-
Initial Public Offering Observational
By Shelby AndersonMay 28, 2018During my first week at Weil this summer, I was given the opportunity to observe a drafting session, where Weil attorneys, our client, the banks and their attorneys all worked together to finalize the SEC filings for our client’s initial public offering. Not only was I able to sit in on the session and observe, I was asked to take notes on the changes being made to the original draft. Later, my notes ended up being used by the attorneys during the final stages of edits. It was incredible to be trusted to meet and interact with our clients, as well as to feel included and useful in the process.…
-
A Flexible Approach
By Jason GeorgeMay 28, 2018The beginning of summer at Weil comes with a variety of emotions—anticipation, eagerness, excitement, curiosity, and more. Prior to coming to Weil, we all heard stories about what it is like to be a summer associate, but no one can fully appreciate what it feels like to be a summer associate, until you are one. After two weeks, I now understand why a summer associate position may be difficult to pin down. Here at Weil, you have the ability to design your own experience based on your personal interests. Everyone’s summer experience is different. A summer associate has the opportunity to rotate through multiple departments—be it Litigation, Corporate, Business Finance…
-
Mentorship and Open Door Policy
By Alan WenMay 28, 2018“Please feel free to stop by my office or call me if you have any question about anything. We are here to help you. Our doors are always open.” When I interviewed during OCI last year, people often threw buzzwords like “collegial” and “supportive” to describe their firm. Those words are easier said than done. My experiences at Weil have confirmed that they really live up to their commitment to diversity and openness. Partners and senior associates in the BFR group reiterated the “open door” policy at the group orientation. To be honest, at first I was hesitant to believe that doors are truly open in a fast-paced international law…
-
A Great Learning Experience So Far
By Kyle JacksonMay 28, 2018Since arriving at Weil three weeks ago, I have been rotating through the Tax Department. It has so far been a great learning experience, thanks to the high-quality mentorship I have received. Most of my time has been spent on two ongoing transactions. In each, the lawyers involved have done an excellent job of conveying to me the big picture of the deal: who the parties are, what our client hopes to achieve, and how the tax law interacts with these goals. They have also included me in important correspondence with clients and opposing counsel, which is a helpful way to learn about the practical aspects of successfully executing a…
-
Varied Experience
By Markus von der MarwitzJuly 11, 2017New York – If you’re undecided about which practice group you’d like to join, the summer program at Weil does a great job exposing you to many aspects of each group’s practice. I split my summer into three four-week rotations: Corporate, Business Finance and Restructuring (BFR), and Litigation. In addition to receiving a variety of assignments, I was able to attend a number of hearings and client meetings, which gave me a much clearer picture of what attorneys in each group do. I spent my first four weeks in the Corporate Department. During an assignment for the capital markets group, I attended a meeting at a client’s office, where the…
-
Exposure and Involvement
By Steven StrongJuly 5, 2017NEW YORK – Although there are many aspects of Weil that set it apart from other firms, one thing immediately comes to mind: exposure. When starting at Weil, I knew that I would have the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting projects; however, I had no idea that I would gain so much exposure to the actual practice of law. Throughout the summer, Weil has provided opportunities for summer associates to work on observational assignments as well as participate in a two week pro bono externship. I have done both. As far as observational assignments, my most memorable moment was accompanying a partner to a hearing in federal…
-
A Meeting of the Minds
By Zander WeissJune 27, 2017NEW YORK – Every summer associate rotating through the Litigation Department gets the opportunity to “shadow” a case—to attend all meetings, hearings, and phone calls that are relevant to a single matter. Since most summers jump from assignment to assignment to experience a diverse breadth of practice areas, case shadowing is a great way to experience the progression of a legal matter. For the past six weeks, I have sat in on internal discussions regarding a significant and high-profile U.S. bankruptcy. The issues are both complex and fascinating, but the main appeal for me has been the opportunity to take a focused look at how Weil attorneys work as a…
-
The Assignment Process
By Caleb SmallJune 15, 2017NEW YORK – “You want me to watch TV? For work?” Was this how a food critic felt every day going to work? You’re going to pay me to eat? The prospect of joining Weil’s IP/Media practice had always excited me, but seeing Marvel posters and other famous TV characters around a partner’s office told me a few things: First, don’t be afraid to dress up your office. Second, Weil can be a place to merge your out-of-office hobbies with your career.
-
Mentorship at Weil
By Michael AkselradJune 8, 2017NEW YORK – My first month at Weil has been filled with enough dinners, concerts and events that I could have my own dedicated blog about it. But as I reflect on my time here, what seems most important is something I did not expect to be this big a part of my summer: mentorship. Weil’s summer coordinators do a fantastic job of giving summer associates formal opportunities to connect with lawyers at the firm, but it is the atmosphere of the firm itself that provides the informal interactions which have meant even more to me.
-
Teacher of the Year
By Dianna RobinsonJune 7, 2017NEW YORK – It was my third day at Weil and I was starting to settle into my Litigation rotation when my assignment coordinator called. She asked me to reach out to one of the Securities Litigation partners for an assignment. I sent him an email (after reading it over many times) and promptly received a response asking me to join him in his office for a call. Little did I know, I would ultimately be tasked with answering a client question, with three partners awaiting my findings.
-
First Impressions
By Nathan MontaltoJune 5, 2017NEW YORK – It seems strange that a little under a year ago I accepted my offer to spend my summer at Weil. After the whirlwind that is the on campus hiring process—and after having met what feels like hundreds of attorneys at dozens of firms—I felt certain that Weil was the place for me. Everyone I met throughout the hiring process was so clearly engaged in the process and passionate about both the work and the people at Weil.
-
Classroom Teacher to Weil Summer Associate
By Josh Van KirkJune 3, 2017NEW YORK – I came to Weil after spending 15 years working in various roles in education, including as a classroom teacher in both Baltimore and New York City. In that work, one of my primary responsibilities was to build capacity and confidence in my students so they could approach novel concepts critically. In optimal scenarios, my role would be to facilitate and guide independent learning as opposed to conveying a prescribed knowledge set.
-
All Rise
By Salam Sheikh-KhalilJune 2, 2017NEW YORK – Early in my Litigation rotation, I told my assignment coordinator that I wanted to go to court. A few days later, an associate popped her head into my office. “Would you like to attend an appellate argument?” I scribbled a maze of facts on my notepad as she rapidly described an upcoming case. Ten minutes later, I was pulled into an intense meeting about the case, then handed a thick briefing binder. “Don’t forget your suit on Tuesday!” On Tuesday, we took the subway down to the courthouse, a grand building with soaring columns and an exquisitely-ornate courtroom. Several arguments preceded ours—criminal, child custody, insurance, and mortgage…
-
From Teen Vogue to Weil
By Jillian RichardsonMay 31, 2017NEW YORK – Within my first two weeks at Weil, I landed an assignment with the Technology and IP Transactions (TIPT) group where I was tasked with drafting licensing language of a new contract for a client. At first, the prospect of writing a passage containing the right type of language was daunting—contract legalese is far from intuitive—but the associate with whom I was working, sent me some examples of previous contracts and we talked over some of the main points together. She then sent me out the door and I was on my own, ready to write my first (fragment of a) contract. Soon we had a meeting with…
-
Work Assignments
By Thomas FormanMay 29, 2017NEW YORK – Arriving in New York for my summer at Weil, I was very anxious to learn what types of assignments we would be working on. While I had a general sense of the practice areas that interested me, I really wanted to explore different groups, while at the same time receiving substantive work in those groups in which I had the most interest. Quickly upon starting my summer, I came to realize that this was exactly what I would be able to do at Weil. Starting the first week, I was assigned a combination of substantive assignments, along with some observational experiences that were truly incredible. The associates…
-
Something Special
By Frank UngererMay 24, 2017NEW YORK – From sitting on calls with the SEC to observing a partner argue before the Second Circuit, my assignments thus far at Weil have been the paradigm of substance. It is the end of the second week of my litigation rotation, and I have yet to receive an assignment that I felt was menial or “busy work.” The Litigation Department has been consistently busy which translates into meaningful summer assignments that actually impact case direction. My case teams not only prepare me to effectively complete my work, but also include me on matters that are solely for my own benefit. I already feel like a valued member of…
-
Tax – Not Just Observational
By Mikaela (Zhiying) FengMay 23, 2017NEW YORK – My Weil summer started in the Tax Department. Having taken several tax classes in law school, I came into the rotation with passion and curiosity for the subject. My first assignment was to give a presentation (with a partner and an associate) to the entire Tax Department. Imagine how nervous I was to present something that I did not know anything about to all the experienced partners and associates. The support and training provided by my colleagues (inside and outside the department) really helped me through the process. The research training helped me understand the codes, regulations, revenue rulings and court cases on point; the feedback from…
-
Summer Associates at Weil Are Given Real Work
By Kaela DahanAugust 4, 2016NEW YORK – Anticipating my experience as a summer associate at Weil, I often wondered what types of assignments I’d get to work on. I thought, given my little experience, that I would only be assigned small, discrete research assignments that would be of little significance to the case. Well, as the summer draws to a close, I can affirmatively state that I thought wrong. Summer associates at Weil are given real work, tasks that are typically assigned to junior associates, so that they can truly experience what it is like to be a first-year associate at the firm.
-
Work Assignments and the “Observational”
By Derek NamerowAugust 1, 2016NEW YORK – Before starting at Weil in May, I often wondered what the work assignments were going to be like as a summer associate. Would they be substantive or menial? Challenging or straight-forward? Plentiful or scarce? Would I be able to get a true sense of the work in many of the different practice groups?
-
Observational Assignments
By Elisabeth McMorrisJuly 26, 2016NEW YORK – Sitting in your law school classroom only prepares you so much for the reality of working as a lawyer. We know that as students, but the next question is: how do you learn more about the day-to-day life of a corporate lawyer? The answer I was told – and one that I have found to be true – is by “doing and seeing” the work. This was one of the reasons I was most excited to spend my summer at Weil.
-
We1L Exposure
By John ChristiansonJuly 21, 2016DALLAS – As a 1L with no previous law firm experience, I had two goals for my summer at Weil: to gain exposure to as many practice areas as possible, and to learn what I value in a firm. That is, to discover what I want to do and where I want to do it. And in the past weeks, Weil has made the answers to these questions easy to obtain.
-
The Team Effort
By Nicole ComparatoJuly 9, 2016MIAMI – As I hopped down the final stretch of grass in my potato sack, I was eager to reach the finish line and join my Weil colleagues in celebrating an impressive relay race victory. Shortly after high fives were exchanged, I realized we were also celebrating another milestone at the office-wide picnic: the halfway point of the summer program.
-
Joining the Call: Insight on Client Relationships
By Carlin O'DonnellJuly 8, 2016NEW YORK – Last summer, Weil was recommended to me as a firm that partners with its clients. As I prepared my bids for on-campus interviews, a previous employer noted that Weil never felt like outside counsel. Rather, Weil always positioned itself as a member of the organization and each particular matter’s team. And the work product, I was told, always reflected this team-oriented, collaborative approach. This summer, the opportunity to join partners and associates on client calls and in negotiations with counter-parties allowed me to confirm these points first-hand.
-
What Law School Can’t Teach You
By Katie HernandezJune 16, 2016NEW YORK – The most seminal experience I have had since starting as a summer was attending a court hearing. I arrived at the courtroom early, excited for my first experience in court. I sat behind the wooden desk where the Weil team would carefully arrange stacks of meticulously annotated papers and binders. In law school, so much time is spent studying and discussing cases in the abstract that it is easy to lose sight of the purpose and reality of the judicial process. However, once I heard, “All rise,” and the judge entered the room, my studies in law school gained new perspective.
-
First Assignments
By James Pierre-LouisJune 7, 2016NEW YORK – My first weeks at Weil have gone by so quickly! It has been an amazing experience. These weeks have reaffirmed what I already knew: I made the right decision by choosing Weil. My assignment coordinator does a great job of giving me assignments according to my preferences. So far, I have worked on a variety of challenging and interesting assignments from different practice groups. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about the various practice groups and network with the attorneys in each. I have written a couple of memos on securities and employment litigation issues, attended client meetings, and presented my research to the partner on the case.
-
Observational Experience
By Patrick BransonMay 27, 2016NEW YORK – Some of the first advice I received as an incoming summer associate was to try to get a chance to observe what partners and associates do on a daily basis. Seeing what partners and associates actually do is the best way to find out if a certain practice group is right for you. Further, many of the daily activities of partners and associates are never covered in classes, but are centrally important to success in the practice of law. During my first week at the firm, I was assigned to a case team in the litigation department. The associates working on the case quickly welcomed me and…