(CHICAGO) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP was ranked fourth out of more than 100 law firms in 2012 based on The American Lawyer’s annual Summer Associates Survey, up from a fifth place ranking in 2011. This year’s survey gathered feedback from 3,957 law students at 111 law firms.
“Every year we aim to give our summer associates a dynamic, hands-on experience here at Katten, and it’s great to know that our program has been so well received by them,” said Vincent A. F. Sergi, national managing partner at Katten.
Katten received high marks from its summer associates in areas such as interaction with both associates and partners; amount, level and interest of work; accurate portrayal of the firm during interviews; and training and mentoring.
The 34 summer associates who worked in Katten’s Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Charlotte offices this summer had the opportunity to participate in training workshops on topics including legal writing and negotiation, information sessions with different practice groups, partner breakfast and dinner meetings, and a variety of networking events.
In New York, summer associates had the opportunity to attend a lunch seminar with a judge as well as the apparel company PVH Corp.’s shareholder meeting. In Chicago, summer associates participated in a mock trial and a mock deal and took part in a Service Day at Chicago Public School Jose de Diego Community Academy. In Los Angeles, summer associates attended labor negotiations and participated in the Public Counsel CARES Program (Connecting Angelenos to Resources and Essential Services) to assist individuals in need of emergency food, shelter and transportation.
The Summer Associates Survey scores were based on responses in nine key areas, including the amount and quality of interesting work, the “real world” applicability of the work, the types of training and guidance offered, frequency and quality of interactions with partners and full-time associates, the quality of the firm’s communications on goals and evaluations, the authenticity of the firm’s portrayal in interviews, the quality of the firm as a place to work, and the respondents’ inclination to accept a full-time job if one were offered.
