Summer Program
Our summer program is designed to allow summer associates to explore any areas of our practice, experience client meetings, corporate closings, court hearings, depositions and trials, and work with many of the firm's attorneys. Each summer associate is assigned to an "anchor" case or transaction that he or she follows closely through the summer, while also working with other attorneys on other matters. The goal is for summer associates to end the summer with a sense of what practicing as an attorney at Irell & Manella is really like.
Summer associates also take part in special training programs on trial practice, contract drafting, legal research and writing techniques, and practical pointers for those who are interested in clerking. They have the opportunity to participate in a mock wrongful death trial of Wyatt Earp that is tried to a jury and presided over by a retired federal judge. Each summer, many of our summer associates handle pro bono matters and community service projects, including adoption proceedings for needy children and their adoptive families.
Another purpose of Irell & Manella's summer program is for summer associates to get acquainted with each other and the firm's attorneys. Organized events, such as a weekend in Catalina, a night at a Newport Beach resort, and dinners at attorneys' homes, as well as informal lunches and dinners around town, provide our summer associates with exposure to the many attractions of Southern California.
Please see what past summer associates have to say about our program:
Ross Andersen | Georgetown 2013 | Los Angeles Summer Associate
"My summer at Irell couldn't have been better. I got to work with talented people on fascinating matters of my own choosing, while getting to know the very best that Southern California has to offer. Irell allowed me to try out a wide variety of litigation practices, from high profile white collar work to patent litigation. But apart from the work, you can tell that a great deal of thought goes into the social component of this program. After a month with the firm, I'd lost count of the dinner invitations I received from associates. Irell did a fantastic job of introducing me to the experience of practicing law at the highest of levels, while giving me the chance to get to know an extraordinary group of lawyers."
Tristan Favro | NYU 2013 | Los Angeles Summer Associate
"Last fall, I found myself torn between three firms in three cities for my 2L summer. As a born-and-bred northeasterner, I'd always assumed that I would end up somewhere in the area—until I had my callback at Irell. The factors that convinced me to change coasts were the same that made my summer experience so memorable: not only the firm's practice strengths and opportunities for junior associates, but also an acute attention to detail in making my experience as customized and enjoyable as possible. From being able to choose the practice areas in which I wanted to work, to opportunities to meet countless associates and partners, to concerts and social events, Irell gave me an experience that went far beyond the cookie-cutter 2L summer job. It was an experience that catered to my interests and values, and it left me with no doubt that I had made the correct decision about where to go."
Rebecca Horwitz | Chicago 2013 | Los Angeles Summer Associate
"My experience at Irell surpassed all my expectations and exceeded the experiences relayed to me by my law school colleagues. I did a mix of pro bono and billable work and had a variety of assignments that ranged from authoring motions and memos to spending a day helping people in Compton secure state and federal benefits. From patent cases, to appellate cases, to white collar litigation, Irell excels in many areas and thus allows a vast array of experiences as a summer associate. The summer at Irell is also fun. The Firm puts considerable effort into making summer associates part of the community and offers a wide variety of experiences that highlight Los Angeles. The Firm also prompted cooperation and promoted friendship among the summer and junior associates, allowing me to develop a group of friends and colleagues with whom I continue to interact. I would recommend that anyone looking for interesting, high quality work, early responsibility, and stimulating interactions with intelligent, accomplished individuals select Irell."
Nathaniel Lipanovich | Texas 2013 | Newport Beach Summer Associate
"Irell & Manella’s Newport Beach office is a close-knit group, and after my time as a summer associate I felt like part of the family. For me the best part about the summer program was its informal nature. Along with amazing scheduled events (Catalina Island weekend retreat, Ritz-Carlton party and more), there was the opportunity to really get to know the Irell attorneys on a personal level. My fiancé and I went to countless dinners and other impromptu social events, and in these more intimate settings we were able to build relationships with the attorneys, their significant others, and the summer associates. Irell’s summer program is more than just an endless stream of happy hours and forced mingling; it felt relaxed and natural. At the end of the summer I considered many of the attorneys to be friends in every sense of the word. This connection is exactly what I was looking for, and I found it and more at Irell. I am extremely excited to start my career in Newport Beach this fall!"
Irina Oberman | Harvard 2013 | Los Angeles Summer Associate
"I chose Irell because I knew I wanted real responsibility and to learn the craft of lawyering from the most talented group of individuals possible. Irell definitely exceeded my expectations on every level. This summer I was able to work closely with partners and associates on a sentencing memorandum in a white collar case, an expert report on patent invalidity, and a pro bono amicus brief. As a summer associate, I was also able to meet and spend time with many of Irell's partners and associates outside of work, whether that meant having a home-cooked brunch at a partner's house or ziplining on Catalina Island. Irell's summer program was a wonderful experience both socially and professionally, and I am looking forward to returning full-time after completing my clerkship with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals."
Jackson Trugman | USC 2013 | Los Angeles Summer Associate
"I did not truly realize how special Irell’s summer program was until I returned to school in the Fall. Unlike many of my peers, I had a summer experience that was first-rate across the board. I had exciting work assignments on high-stakes matters, extensive partner contact both inside and outside the office, a generous (and flexible) social calendar, and an honest window into the inner workings of the Firm. Every day I was surrounded by brilliant and creative individuals who treated me, even as a summer associate, like part of the team. After spending a summer at Irell, I cannot imagine beginning my career anywhere else."
Elizabeth Tuan | UVA 2013 | Los Angeles Summer Associate
"When I was initially deciding on a firm for my 2L summer internship, I chose Irell because of its excellent reputation, stimulating environment, and opportunity for early responsibility. My summer with Irell exceeded my expectations and then some. I was given the opportunity to work on incredibly interesting patent cases that featured cutting-edge technology, and even though I was only a summer associate, I truly felt like I was part of a team. Additionally, the summer program gave me a chance to bond with both my fellow summer associates and Irell associates. I could not be more excited to return to Irell after graduation."
Katie Yablonka | Berkeley 2013 | Newport Beach Summer Associate
"My summer at Irell & Manella was great and I’m excited to return as an associate next Fall. The size of the Orange County office is perfect – I got to know almost every attorney as well as many of the paralegals, secretaries, and office support staff. I loved being in an office with people who are simultaneously brilliant, down-to-earth, easy to talk to, and genuinely engaged in their work. My assignments were well thought out and responsive to my legal interests. I also received great feedback and felt myself improve as the summer progressed. From our challenging and hilarious mock trial, to traveling to observe a mediation, to the many impromptu get-togethers organized by the attorneys, I’m confident Irell was the right choice for me."