Winston Attorneys Share Their Tips for a Successful 1L Summer

Winston & Strawn has enjoyed the opportunity to meet talented and diverse 1L students at several top Midwest law schools this winter and introduce them to the practice of law.

At Washington University School of Law’s 1L Employer Showcase on January 16, Partner Jim Herbison (WashU ’01) and Associate Tom Neuner (WashU ’18) hosted a small group discussion where they offered the following tips to help students make the most of their 1L summer:

• There are a wide variety of jobs available – law firm, government, clerkship, public interest, teaching assistant – but it is essential that you work somewhere over the summer. It will be the first bullet point on your resume, and potential employers are likely to ask about it in interviews.
• If geographic location is important to you, then make that a priority when searching for summer jobs. It can be difficult to convince an employer that you want to be in a certain location if you have never lived there.
• Try to find the best fit. Assess your interests and the skills/experience you want to develop. You are interviewing your potential employer as much as they are interviewing you.
• Be a positive presence at your summer job and come eager to work and learn. First impressions can carry you a long way, and you never know when you’ll need a reference or recommendation.
• Take advantage of your network, and be sure to reach out to alums at firms that you are interested in learning about.

Earlier in January, attorneys attended the University of Illinois College of Law’s “First Look” networking reception, where they met more 1L students who were eager to learn about Winston and the practice of law.

We also were pleased to be involved in Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s annual Career Night in November and its Wellness Week activities, including our firm’s program on “Deconstructing Stress to Enhance Performance.”

We enjoyed meeting more talented 1L students at the University of Michigan Law School’s “Meet the Employers” event on February 5.

Please visit our Law Students section to learn more about Winston’s summer program.