The Critchfield summer clerk program provides the opportunity for the firm and the law clerk to engage in an extended “interview” and training process over the course of a summer.
The summer clerk program permits the law clerk to meet (and work for) as many attorneys as possible, in as many practice areas as possible, and in all office locations. In addition to the Summer Clerk Program Coordinator, an individual mentor will be assigned to each summer law clerk to provide them with another point of contact. A successful summer clerk program is a critical component of the recruiting process as it allows both the firm and the candidate to see if we are a good fit for each other. In order to keep a steady stream of known candidates available for hire, the firm will endeavor to hire one to four summer law clerks per summer, depending on the needs of the firm and the quality of candidates. Some of the components of the typical program include:
- Rotating to work in all of our offices
- Working in all practice areas
- Receiving constructive, substantive feedback on work product and a formal mid-summer review and a final evaluation
- Researching points of law and drafting memoranda and/or pleadings to the assigning attorney and/or client
- Assisting attorneys in preparing for and observing mediations, hearings or trials
- Observing attorneys meeting with clients
- Drafting client alerts on new laws
- Drafting checklists or forms for various departments (e.g., forms for probate group or employment group)
In the video below, our 2021 summer law clerks provide a glimpse into the program and what it was like to spend a summer at Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston.