Jump Start Your Career
It takes talent, tenacity, and a thirst for knowledge to become an exceptional lawyer. Lewis Roca can help you develop all three of these traits. As a summer associate or legal intern, you’ll benefit from a wide range of mentoring, networking, and learning opportunities that will lay the groundwork for a successful career.
Summer Associates
Because we hope to build lasting relationships, great effort goes into planning programs that enable you to get to know us – and vice versa.
Mentors and Readers
Each summer associate has both a mentor and a reader. The mentor’s role is to assist with your integration into the firm, including introductions to lawyers through lunches and social activities, as well as to answer questions and offer support when you need it. Your reader will review your written projects and provide constructive feedback.
Work Assignments
You will have the opportunity to collaborate with several lawyers on substantive projects during your time at the firm. Our goal is to offer intellectually stimulating work that develops your writing, analytical, and advocacy skills while helping you get to know partners and associates who are deeply invested in your success.
Professional Development
All summer associates attend an introductory orientation followed by the firm’s Summer Associate Training Academy (SATA), a weeklong program that takes place at our Phoenix office. Led by two of our lawyers, SATA includes a practice writing assignment with lawyer feedback as well as presentations on practice groups, business development, professional development, and other relevant topics.
We also encourage you to participate in a variety of workshops, lunchtime programs, and practice group presentations during your time at the firm.
Equally important, you will be invited to join our lawyers at client meetings, closings, negotiating sessions, and court appearances, which provide insight into our practices and give you a deeper understanding of life at Lewis Roca.
Time to Relax
We believe that strong personal relationships are the bedrock of a successful legal practice so there will be many opportunities to get to know us outside the office, from casual barbecues to cooking classes, baseball games, and weekend getaways, COVID safety guidelines permitting.
In addition to scheduled events, we encourage summer associates and lawyers to get together informally. Many of our summer associates develop friendships and professional relationships that continue throughout their careers.
Summer FAQs
- Which Lewis Roca offices host summer programs?
A. In 2021, the Denver, Los Angeles, and Phoenix offices are hosting summer programs. In 2021, the firm may use a hybrid model with a mix of remote and in-person participation. - What are the start and end dates?
A. The summer program is typically nine to 10 weeks long. - Are summer associates required to spend a minimum number of weeks at the firm?
A. Our experience indicates that you should spend at least seven weeks with us to best take advantage of our summer program and participate fully in firm activities. - How are work assignments determined?
A. An assignment coordinator will work with you to arrange a range of assignments based on your preference and the needs of the firm. - How much partner contact will I have?
A. All summer associates work with partners, and frequent interaction is encouraged. We also plan many opportunities for you to meet partners on a social basis. - Are salaries competitive?
A. We offer competitive salaries to our summer associates. In 2021, salaries in Denver and Phoenix will be $2,692 per week. The salary in Los Angeles will be $3,269 per week. - What if I have outside commitments and cannot attend all of the summer social events?
A. Summer social events offer a broad range of opportunities to build relationships by having fun with your new colleagues. However, we understand that summer associates lead busy lives and assure you that attendance is always voluntary. - Will my spouse/significant other be invited to attend social events?
A. Although not all events will be open to guests, we make every effort to involve significant others in the majority of our social events. - What happens if I receive a judicial clerkship at the end of the summer program?
A. Lewis Roca values the judicial clerkship experience. Employment offers with the firm remain open until the end of a one-year clerkship following graduation from law school.
Diversity Internship Opportunities
As part of Lewis Roca’s commitment to strengthening our practice by attracting a broad range of voices and perspectives, we support programs designed to increase the diversity of the bar and the communities in which we practice. These include:
Denver: The Michael D. Nosler Scholarship honors a previous managing partner who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to diversity in the legal profession. It offers a talented, diverse second-year law student $10,000 towards their law school tuition upon completion of a paid, 12-week internship during the fall semester. In addition to financial assistance, the scholarship program provides the recipient with a learning experience that will develop and enhance their legal writing skills, and exposure to the private law firm environment and the real-world practice of law.
The program is competitive; one recipient is selected each year from either the University of Denver Sturm College of Law or the University of Colorado Law School.
Click here for the Michael D. Nosler Scholarship Overview and Application.
Las Vegas: The firm hosts minority law students from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas through the state bar’s Professional Development Fellowship Program. Selected students receive a $4,000 stipend.
Phoenix: Our lawyers work with second-year minority law students from Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University to provide real-world clerking assignments in a private firm setting. Selected students begin their internship with the firm in January and are awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
Tucson: The Arizona Minority Bar Association coordinates a Minority Writing Program Clerkship to provide second-year students with practical internship experience at our firm and others in the Tucson area. Internships begin in January and include a $4,000 stipend.
How to Apply
We look forward to hearing from you! Our process begins with an online application with your letter of interest, resume, law school transcript, and writing sample. Be sure to indicate your preferred office location.
Interested? Click here to apply for our summer program. Once you apply, your application status will be updated by email and/or telephone. For other questions or inquiries about the recruiting process, please contact:
Veronica Samaniego
Lawyer Recruiting Director
602.262.5355
lawyerrecruiting@lewisroca.com
Our 2023 on-campus interview schedule is below.
| LAW SCHOOL | OCI DATE |
| Arizona State University | TBD |
|
Brigham Young University |
TBD |
| Loyola Patent Law Interview Program | TBD |
| San Francisco Intellectual Property Job Fair | TBD |
| University of Arizona | TBD |
| University of Colorado | TBD |
| University of Denver | TBD |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas | TBD |
I believe that the firm has structured the summer associate program to provide us with everything that we need to succeed.
Lewis Roca Summer Associate
I feel the work assignment process works as designed and I received a solid diversity of project and worked with a wide number of lawyers at the firm.
Lewis Roca Summer Associate
I have enjoyed working with every single person I have come into contact with at Lewis Roca. Everyone has been exceedingly welcoming and willing to help me in my professional development.
Lewis Roca Summer Associate
There was a tremendous amount of support. I feel comfortable asking questions and seeking additional support where necessary.
Lewis Roca Sumnmer Associate
Veronica Samaniego
Lawyer Recruiting Manager
602.262.5355
lawyerrecruiting@lewisroca.comLewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, color, age, physical or mental disability, spousal affiliation, marital status, a serious medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.