Summer Program

Community Service and Pro Bono Work 
Project Coordinator/Mentor Team 
Workload, Feedback and Reviews 
Training 
Socials 
Benefits

The Summer Associate Program is designed to give first year law students a realistic idea of life as a new associate at GH&R.  During the summer, GH&R attorneys take every opportunity to meet with summer associates and learn more about their personal and professional interests.

We are very proud of the firm’s congenial atmosphere.  Our attorneys develop friendships both inside and outside the office and take time out to get together for informal attorney lunches sponsored by the Firm.  Summer associates are given a variety of social opportunities to get to know partners, associates and staff.

We are committed to developing our associates early, beginning with the summer program.  Past summer associates, for example, have worked with clients and attended trials, Sixth Circuit and State Appellate arguments, depositions, mediations and closings.

Community Service and Pro Bono Work
The firm also places great emphasis on community and professional involvement in our region.  Our attorneys continue the more than 135 years of civic tradition by serving on over 200 area boards.  We like to include summer associates in this tradition by planning at least one community service event during the summer showcasing an organization in which attorneys are involved.  We also participate in a number of charitable runs/walks as a firm each summer.  Summer associates also have the opportunity to accompany attorneys to community and professional board meetings.

The firm has a tradition of pro bono work, as well.  Our history of giving back is evidenced by the Cincinnati Bar Association Annual Community Service award for pro bono excellence, named in memory of long-time GH&R partner John W. Warrington.  The firm commits to at least 15 pro bono cases a year through Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor.  Summer associates may have an opportunity to work on these cases, typically involving landlord/tenant issues, immigration, credit issues and consumer problems. 

"The accessibility and willingness of all members of the firm to entertain
the summer associates' questions made fitting in so much easier. Being able to
knock on anyone's door, including the most senior partner,
made GH&R a truly special place to work."

Project Coordinator/Mentor Team
Each summer associate is assigned a Project Coordinator who oversees their workflow and the variety of projects they receive, to ensure high quality, diversified assignments.  The project coordinator is a partner who solicits work for summer associates based on their interests, and meets with their summer associate to go over the assignments during their orientation.  As the summer progresses, assigning attorneys will tend to go directly to summer associates with assignments, but summer associates will continue to meet with their project coordinator weekly to discuss workload and to ensure that they are getting a good, diverse mix of work.

The two Associate Mentors serve as a resource for any substantive legal and non-legal questions. The mentors provide valuable insight into the firm to ensure your success.  Mentors can help you with guidance on the organizational structure, firm culture, and tips for working with your secretary and other attorneys as well as balancing career, family and community activities.

Several programs are planned throughout the summer with the Project Coordinator/Mentor team where you can get to know them more personally in a social setting.

"The partners and associates made sure I had meaningful work
where I was really contributing to the firm and helping clients."

Workload
At the beginning of the summer, summer associates are asked to identify areas that are of primary interest to them.  We strive to provide the majority of work in these areas.  Depending on the needs of the firm, summer associates will also be asked to help out in areas that they may not have identified.  This provides them with a well-rounded, balanced view of the level of sophistication and complexity of work at GH&R.  These assignments are challenging and provide firsthand experience on a variety of client projects.  Examples of projects from recent summer programs include: preparing attorneys for oral arguments, writing briefs and motions, interviewing witnesses, assisting in deals and at depositions, writing memos to clients and participating in conference calls with clients. 

Feedback
Assigning attorneys are encouraged to provide oral feedback to summer associates and complete a written evaluation at the completion of each project.  Project coordinators, along with the firm’s Professional Development Director, will review every evaluation promptly and provide timely feedback to each summer associate.

Reviews
Each summer associate will also have an informal midsummer review and formal final review.  To become a more successful summer associate and, in the future, a successful practicing attorney, these reviews provide an opportunity to get overall feedback on progress, discussing both strengths and areas to improve.  Reviews also give summer associates an opportunity to provide feedback to us on the summer, including the type of work they are getting, the type of work they would like to get for the second half of the summer, and anything else they would like to share.

"I came into the summer knowing nothing and left with knowledge resulting from
my many meaningful, educational experiences."

Training
We believe that continuing education is an essential part of being an outstanding attorney, and we incorporate that belief into our Summer Associate Program as well. The GH&R Summer Associate orientation and training programs are extensive and include topics such as:

  • Successfully managing your assignments and workload
  • Writing workshops
  • Getting involved in civic, cultural and community organizations
  • Speaking with litigation and corporate attorneys on their experience as a new associate
  • Roundtable discussion with a federal judge (and former GH&R partner)
  • "Inside Look" program at the Cincinnati Bar Association
  • Timekeeping and billing
  • Risk Management issues (i.e., conflict checks, confidentiality, ethics)
  • Lexis and Westlaw sessions
  • Monthly attorney substantive law training programs
  • Attorney business development training programs

We also believe it's important to gain first hand experience by attending hearings and closings, sitting in on depositions, arbitrations, mediations, trials and client meetings.

Socials
It is important to us that you get to know us both inside and outside the office on an informal basis.  The firm hosts a number of social events throughout the summer including the firm wide summer party, associates’ social, Reds games, dinner parties at partners’ homes, Tennis Masters Series matches and CBA softball league games.  Attorneys and staff also get together for spur-of-the-moment after hours activities.

"Everyone at GH&R was willing to help me succeed and achieve my goals."

Benefits
Choosing a law firm for the summer can be a difficult choice. A few factors to consider include the quality of the people you meet, the variety of work, the balance the attorneys have in their lives and the opportunity to work closely with Partners and Associates.

Summer associates are paid $1,750 per week with free parking, a secretary and an office.  Summer associates will have the full resources of the firm available to them including the technology and library teams.  There are no mandatory billing requirements for the Summer Associate Program.

For more information regarding our Summer Associate Program, please contact Alexandra G. Walters, Professional Development Director, at 513-629-2858 or awalters@graydon.com.