Williams Mullen

Summer 2023 Update: At this time applications are closed for 2Ls, and we will be accepting candidates for our 1L Diversity Fellowship from December 15, 2022 to January 23, 2023. Williams Mullen will host our 2023 Summer Associate Program in the following offices: Richmond, VA; Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA; and Raleigh, NC.

Want to be part of a positive environment and join a team where you will gain a high level of experience from the start? Looking to find colleagues who will support you in a collaborative effort?

Summer associates at Williams Mullen can expect an experience quite similar to that of a first-year associate at our firm. The summer program includes challenging assignments, knowledge and skills development programs, and social interaction with associates, partners and staff.

Through supervising attorneys, summer associates receive varied assignments as well as in-depth feedback. Associate mentors, partner mentors and supervising attorneys are paired with the summer associates based on personal and professional interests. Weekly practice briefings are conducted with attorneys from each of our major practice groups to supplement the work experience and provide a broader exposure to the various practice areas. Partners also play a prominent role in the program by social activities, and they get to know our summer associates on a personal level.

We offer our summer program in our Richmond, VA, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA and Raleigh, NC offices (we do not have summer associates in our other locations).  Historically, students who receive an offer after the summer are invited to join our Corporate, Finance & Real Estate, Healthcare or Labor, Employment & Immigration sections. Depending on location, summer associates have an option to spend six or nine weeks with us.

Upon successful completion of the Summer Associate Program, students will be considered for first-year associate positions in those offices.

At this time, Williams Mullen has elected not to sponsor candidates for immigration visa status.

The firm is committed to a policy of anti-harassment, non-discrimination and equal employment opportunities for all employees, interns and applicants for employment. Williams Mullen is an equal opportunity employer.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a rotation?
A summer associate's rotation is influenced by his or her interests that are gathered prior to his or her arrival. In our Richmond and Raleigh offices, a rotation period lasts three weeks, and one attorney will act as the summer associate's supervisor for each rotation. In Hampton Roads, there is no formal rotation; however, students will receive assignments from supervising attorneys in transactional practice areas and have opportunities to gain varied experience.

How many hours do summer associates work?
Williams Mullen expects its summer associates to work in conjunction with each office's operational business hours. Supervising attorneys and the talent management team monitor summer associates' workloads to keep their productivity within this expectation. Summer associates receive both billable and non-billable work and are expected to produce work product timely. Summer associates do not have billable requirements; although, when appropriate, clients are billed for their time.

What will I be expected to know when beginning the summer program (e.g., skills, qualities, recommended classes to prepare for summer, etc.)?
The attorneys at Williams Mullen recognize that summer associates generally do not have extensive experience in the subject matters of the firm's various practice areas. As a result, attorneys who assign work to summer associates provide them with the necessary substantive background to complete projects. Also, our knowledgeable library and research staff guide and assist summer associates throughout the program. Summer associates are expected to use their general legal skills, such as analytical thinking and research, which they have learned in their first-year and/or second-year law school classes.

How do summer associates receive feedback?
Once a summer associate completes and submits a project, an electronic evaluation is sent to the assigning attorney. A recruiting committee contact, in conjunction with the Talent Management Department, facilitates the feedback process via mid-summer and final reviews. Summer associates also receive informal feedback from attorneys throughout the summer.

As a 2L, when and how do I apply?
For Summer 2024, we will conduct on-campus interviews or resume collections at most law schools throughout our firm’s regional footprint starting in July 2023. Students at those schools must apply through their career services office. Interviews will be conducted in early August.

We also welcome direct applications from all other law schools. Direct Applications for the 2024 Summer Associate Program will be accepted through our firm website’s Summer Associate job postings between Saturday, July 1st through Friday, July 28th.