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COLLABORATION COLLEGIALITY CULTURE EXPERIENCE WHAT SETS FOSTER PEPPER APART
COLLABORATION COLLEGIALITY
CULTUREEXPERIENCE WHAT SETS
FOSTER PEPPER APART
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AT-A-GLANCE
Foster Pepper is the fifth largest full service law firm in Washington state, with offices in Seattle and Spokane. Ranked among the best regional law firms in the nation, we offer a diverse range of practice areas and have some of the most respected and skilled attorneys in the country.
Our summer associate program is designed to be professionally and personally fulfilling, with an emphasis on one-on-one mentorship, frequent feedback and access to high quality work. We hire motived and passionate students who have the acumen and interpersonal skills to become excellent attorneys, and who have a desire to practice in Washington upon graduation.
2L Summer Associate applications for the upcoming summer are considered starting in May and all 2L Summer Associate interviews are concluded by mid-October.
Our 10-week summer program runs from June through mid-August. We typically discourage “split” summers with other law firms, but will consider requests on a case-by-case basis.
This brochure summarizes our summer program and highlights what sets Foster Pepper apart. Questions should be directed to Bethany Brown, Senior Manager of Attorney Recruitment and Professional Development.
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COLLABORATION, COLLEGIALITY, CULTURE EXPERIENCE WHAT SETS FOSTER PEPPER APART
THE EXPERIENCE
The Summer Associate experience is structured to be educational, entertaining and engaging. The first week kicks off with an all-firm breakfast and week-long orientation. During this time Summer Associates begin taking on cutting-edge work that will help them determine what practice area they want to join for the long-term. Our robust social calendar is geared to introduce Summer Associates to a large cross section of attorneys and staff and become familiar with the firm culture and our attorneys. The goal is for Summer Associates to finish the program excited and eager to return to the firm as first-year associates.
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THE TEAM
WORKFLOW COORDINATORS
One unique aspect of Foster Pepper’s program is that each Summer Associate has his or her own Workflow Coordinator. The Workflow Coordinator’s role is to ensure steady, quality workflow and to provide support and guidance. Before attorneys can submit a project, they must show that it is educationally valuable and provides a practical component. Past projects include:
Researching and writing legal memoranda for clients;
Preparing for, attending and arguing in court;
Participating in client meetings;
Drafting legal documents; and
Participating in negotiations.
The Workflow Coordinators report to the firm’s Summer Associate Recruiting Committee (SARC) on Summer Associate’s progress and individual needs. At the end of each rotation, the Workflow Coordinator provides a comprehensive summary to SARC regarding the Summer Associate’s work product and overall performance. Each Summer Associate receives comprehensive feedback throughout the summer.
THE WORK
Summer Associates rotate through multiple practice groups. Before assignments are finalized, the firm considers practice preferences, interests, and background. Summer Associates finish the summer with a strong work product portfolio, a solid understanding of varying attorney work styles and practice groups.
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COLLABORATION, COLLEGIALITY, CULTURE EXPERIENCE WHAT SETS FOSTER PEPPER APART
SOCIAL MENTORS
Another factor that sets Foster Pepper’s program apart is its phenomenal people, collegial environment and the extent to which the firm cares about not only the overall experience, but each Summer Associate’s success. To ensure integration and a positive experience, each Summer Associate is assigned a Social Mentor. Social Mentors help their respective “mentees” take advantage of social opportunities, encourage healthy work-life balance and facilitate as many interactions with as many attorneys and staff as possible.
Social Mentors also advise on firm protocol, policies and help resolve interpersonal issues.
Importantly, to ensure an open exchange of information, Social Mentors do not report to SARC or have a “vote” as to whether their mentee should receive an offer from the firm.
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THE SOCIAL ASPECT
Summer Associates participate in various social events organized to showcase the Pacific Northwest and interact with Foster Pepper attorneys and staff.
Favorite events from previous summer associate programs include:
Seattle Mariners baseball games
Seattle Sounders soccer matches
Seattle Storm basketball games
Golf outings
Sailing outings
Hosted dinners at Members’ homes
Volunteer events
Cooking class
Lake Union motorboat scavenger hunt
Concerts in the Foster Pepper suite at CenturyLink Field
THE SCHEDULE
Summer Associates set their own work schedules. To discourage any competition over billable hours and to leave sufficient time for social participation, there is a 25 hour cap per week on work.
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COLLABORATION, COLLEGIALITY, CULTURE EXPERIENCE WHAT SETS FOSTER PEPPER APART
THE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT
Foster Pepper’s Professional Development Committee (PDC) focuses on associate growth and development. The PDC relies on input from Associates, Members, firm leadership, and industry best practices to create contemporary programs and policies that promote associate development, satisfaction and success.
Summer Associates participate in the firm’s various in-house training programs, which include practice discipline-specific programs, practice trainings, and general and specific skill-building trainings offered by in-house and/or external presenters. In addition, Summer Associates can take advantage of Foster Pepper’s subscription to the Practicing Law Institute’s online service, including CLEs, course materials, law review articles, white papers and other resources.
“The Foster Pepper Summer Associate Program is an incredible opportunity to work with, and
learn from, lawyers and staff engaged in exciting and challenging legal work. Foster creates an
environment intended to both support and stretch summer associates. It provides summer associates with a social mentor and work flow coordinator to help navigate and integrate into the firm, but also
ensures that summer associates have interesting and challenging work, to demonstrate what practicing
law at Foster is really like.”
– Michelle Rusk(Summer Associate 2015 and 2016)
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COLLABORATION, COLLEGIALITY, CULTURE EXPERIENCE WHAT SETS FOSTER PEPPER APART
THE PRO BONO INITIATIVE
Foster Pepper has a longstanding tradition of pro bono, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. Providing pro bono is an important element of every attorney’s professional responsibility, and the firm encourages participation in public service activities that cultivate better attorneys and build stronger communities. Foster Pepper also employs a full-time Pro Bono Partner who directs the firm’s nationally recognized and award-winning Pro Bono Program.
The Summer Associate class is assigned a pro bono project, which creates an opportunity for the class to become published (the finished product will be a manual or a resource that is distributed in the community) and learn about an area of law that encourages positive systemic policy change. Past projects include the Craniofacial Pediatric Access Project, Access to Healthy Foods Washington, Helping Children of Incarcerated Juveniles, Access to Transportation and Effective Advocacy for Abused and Neglected Children.
“Foster Pepper’s Summer Program provides good insight into the firm’s culture. It allows
participants to become acquainted with many, if not most of the firm’s attorneys, through lunches and other fun events. Many of Foster Pepper’s most senior partners began their legal career as
participants in the Summer Program. The Summer Program thus boasts a rich, tradition-filled
history.”
– Isaac Joy(Summer Associate, 2016)
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THE PROCESS
Summer Associates are recruited primarily through On-Campus Interviews (OCI). Students at law schools where Foster Pepper does not have an OCI presence are encouraged to apply directly to Bethany Brown. Applications must include a cover letter, current resume, and law school transcript. Applications that do not include these materials will not be considered. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis starting in May.
Applicants with outstanding credentials are selected for an initial interview either at Foster Pepper, at the candidate’s law school or via Skype. During first round interviews, students meet with one or two representatives from the firm’s Summer Associate Recruiting Committee. These representatives recommend whether to invite the student back to the firm for an extended callback interview. During the callback interview, the student meets eight attorneys from various practice groups across the firm. Candidates are informed whether they have been selected on a rolling basis. All offers made will be kept open for 28 days, consistent with the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) guidelines.
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COLLABORATION, COLLEGIALITY, CULTURE EXPERIENCE WHAT SETS FOSTER PEPPER APART
“During my first summer with Foster Pepper, I discovered a community that facilitated successful work experiences and the development of mentor
relationships. The access to a wide variety of projects allowed me to develop my professional
interests, but also allowed me to work on projects that made a social impact. Throughout the summer, social events provided great opportunities to absorb
the firm culture. All these experiences made the decision of returning to Foster Pepper an easy one.”
– Paul Heer(Summer Associate, 2014 and 2015)
NALP FORM
To download the NALP form visit: www.nalpdirectory.com
APPLICATION PROCESS
To submit an application, upload your materials (cover letter, resume and law school transcript) through our website at: www.foster.com/careers
COMPENSATION
Summer Associate salaries are determined during the first quarter of each year, and are competitive. Compensation for Summer Associates in 2018 was $2,884 per week.
