Summer Associate Program

The Verrill Dana Summer Associate Program is a comprehensive, 12-week program for second year law students, with just the right mix of work and play. Based in our Portland, Maine office, the Program is designed to provide an opportunity for us to get to know each other better. We look to give a realistic picture of the firm and present them with the information that they need to know to determine if Verrill Dana is the place for them after graduation. Career choices are the most difficult decisions to make and we hope that spending some time with us will help you make the right choice. Since most of our associates are drawn from the summer program, the summer program is at the heart of our recruiting efforts. We have remained committed to the long-term benefits of this program regardless of the economic times or trends. Our summer class size is designed to project our long term hiring needs.

The Work
The summer program is designed to provide an opportunity for each summer associate to experience the law practice of a typical associate at the firm. Summer associates will rotate through several departments and practice groups over the course of the summer. Work assignments will involve significant research and writing, but also an opportunity to observe hearings, trials, closings and client meetings when such opportunities are available. By having the opportunity to observe our attorneys with clients and other counsel, the summer associate is exposed to the collaborative, team effort that characterizes Verrill Dana, as well as the challenging work that we do.

Evaluation & Mentoring
Each summer associate is assigned a peer contact and mentor to provide guidance in their transition from law school to the law firm. Throughout the summer, attorneys provide an informal evaluation on every project that they have assigned a summer associate. These evaluations are critical to the development of our summer associates. At mid-summer and summer’s end, each summer associate meets with the Chair of the Hiring Committee to receive feedback on his or her progress. This also provides an opportunity for the summer associate to give us feedback on our summer program and the practices that they are most interested in.

Social Events
Our summer program provides summer associates with the opportunity to get to know the members of the firm outside the office in a more relaxed, informal setting. Each year, we hold a number of social functions such as meet and greets, lunches and dinners, sailing on Casco Bay, attending Sea Dogs and Boston Red Sox games, and more.