Sowell Gray

Summer Associate Program

Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte offers a challenging and rewarding summer associate program designed to give second-year law students intellectually stimulating, real-world litigation experience. With over twenty lawyers and over thirty staff members, Sowell Gray provides a unique summer experience competitive with firms much larger in size.

Real Stuff
Summering at Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte gives students legal experience with a diversified team of lawyers in a wide range of litigation fields. Every summer associate will work with each lawyer in our practice on projects ranging from legal research and writing to assisting in depositions, motions practice, trials and appeals. Frequent "Day in the Life" lunches expose associates to the day-in, day-out life of a practicing lawyer in the various types of litigation we handle, and the Summer Mentor program offers the student good advice from someone who's been there. And while it may be hard work at the office, it's fun after hours as we engage in a full calendar of social activities involving summer associates and lawyers.

Feedback
We have designed an evaluation process that focuses on the quality of the law clerk's work on a project-by-project basis in addition to allowing the law clerk to provide his or her feedback on the summer program to us. Constructive evaluations are vital to the summer associate program, and each project will be assigned, supervised and evaluated by a firm attorney to help the summer associates improve important legal skills during their time here. The assigning lawyer completes an evaluation after each project in order to give immediate and constructive feedback, offering plenty of opportunities to enhance those skills learned in law school and put them to work in a real-world environment. Each law clerk is also asked for his or her evaluation of our program and all suggestions are used to improve the next year's summer associate experience.

Mentor
Each summer associate will be assigned a mentor from the firm to help with the transition from school to work. Mentors assist law clerks with navigating life in a law firm, from practical assistance with the necessary tools and technology to guidance in the nuances of working with clients and the judicial system. By pairing experienced lawyers with summer associates, the firm provides the opportunity for the summer associate to learn, be challenged, and engage in a rewarding summer experience.

Qualified applicants for our Summer Associate Program should submit the following information to Michael Montgomery or Nick Haigler.

• Resume indicating a 3.0 GPA or better, and strong research and writing skills
• Excellent references
• Cover letter

Writing samples will be required from selected applicants.

 Learn about Sowell Gray's career opportunities.