Summer Program

“The summer program confirmed without a doubt that Simpson is the best place for a young lawyer to start his or her career at.”

Simpson Thacher lawyers work on headline cases and transactions—and our summer associates contribute on multiple levels, participating in our most important deals and disputes. During the summer, we don’t promote or showcase particular practice areas or certain partners. Instead, we integrate exceptional students onto our collaborative teams, as it is our excellence across many disciplines that sets us apart. Through our multifaceted, interactive summer program, our summer associates have the opportunity to experience both the Firm’s day-to-day work and our broader culture.

Simpson Thacher operates formal Summer Programs in New York (our largest class), the Bay Area, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Each year, a number of summer associates split their time between a U.S. and international office, working in London, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo or São Paulo. Our Asian and Brazilian offices provide outstanding opportunities for summer associates with the requisite language skills.

Assignments & Training

“The partners and associates on each team put a huge amount of trust in me, which was really rewarding. I especially appreciated the international nature of the work Simpson does – one of my days began with a morning M&A call with counsel in The Netherlands and ended with a Credit call with colleagues in Tokyo and Hong Kong.”

Assignments provide summer associates with a realistic experience of associate life. A small team of partners and senior associates are responsible for assigning work from all departments. These attorneys regularly communicate with summer associates to determine their preferences and facilitate the staffing process. We encourage our summer associates to use their time at the firm to gain a greater understanding of the types of work that we do and to learn about the many options available to them as they begin their legal careers with Simpson Thacher.

Our flexible approach to staffing allows summer associates the freedom to work in a single department and move around within it, or to choose work from among our many departments and practice groups, including:

Corporate, broadly organized into the following practice groups: Banking and Credit (which includes Restructuring and Bankruptcy); Capital Markets; Energy and Infrastructure; Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Funds; and Registered Funds.
Litigation, offering various practice specialties, including Competition, Government and Internal Investigations, Insurance and Reinsurance, Intellectual Property, International Arbitration and Securities Litigation.
Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits
Exempt Organizations
Personal Planning
Real Estate
Tax

Summer associates work side-by-side with partners and associates on complex client projects. These work assignments develop and refine research, writing and legal analysis skills. Summer associates learn first-hand about trying cases, drafting motions and agreements, negotiating effectively, and closing deals.

Typical assignments for summer associates include writing briefs, motions, contracts and client memoranda; assisting in drafting and negotiation sessions; assisting with taking and defending depositions, as well as witness preparation; attending critical meetings; and performing due diligence in corporate transactions.

At Simpson Thacher, summer associates learn by doing. Our STB Academy program is an immersive summer training curriculum that complements summer associates’ real client work with hands-on, practice-specific learning experiences. Through interactive workshops, simulations, attorney-led instruction and shadowing opportunities, participants gain insight into the substantive work performed by our lawyers across the Firm. Designed to build practical skills, deepen understanding of our practice areas and provide meaningful exposure to life at Simpson Thacher, STB Academy helps summer associates develop the confidence and capabilities needed to succeed as future lawyers.

Summer associates also participate in the STB 101 Summer Training Series, a foundational program that introduces key concepts across our major practice areas. Led by partners and associates, these sessions offer valuable insight into our practices and clients while creating opportunities to engage directly with attorneys from across the Firm. In addition, summer associates participate in frequent formal training programs to supplement their hands-on experience. Seminars and training sessions are tailored to summer associates' needs and may include legal writing workshops, mock depositions and other skills-based programs. Summer associates are also invited to attend the Firm's Continuing Legal Education seminars and other Firm-wide training programs, providing further opportunities for learning and professional development.

Mentoring & Feedback

“A culture of teaching and mentorship runs deep at STB – I’ve come to work every day confident that the attorneys here are invested in my development and success.”

Mentoring is provided at every level of the Firm, but it is particularly important for summer associates. Each summer associate is assigned an associate and a partner mentor to provide regular guidance throughout the summer program. The pairings may be based on a school tie, common background or interest, or a special connection made during the interview process. Partner mentors are not only available to talk and advise, but also work directly with their mentees.

More than anything, it’s the give-and-take of daily work that affords the most rewarding mentoring opportunities. All Simpson Thacher lawyers assume a responsibility to engage our summer associates and thus contribute to an invaluable learning experience. Both socially and professionally, we seek to build a dynamic mix of lawyers across our practices.

The review process for summer associates mirrors what we use with all associates, offering prompt, specific feedback and reviews. Supervising lawyers offer verbal work assessments both during assignments and at their completion. Thereafter, supervising lawyers complete a written evaluation, and a Recruiting Committee partner meets with each summer associate at mid-summer and again at the end of the program. We understand, and even expect, that many summer associates will be experiencing a professional setting for the first extended period of time. As a result, “real-time” feedback, guidance and mentoring are critical.

We also seek input from our summer associates on ways to improve the quality of the summer experience. Our partners and associates pride themselves on maintaining an open door policy.

Social Events

“Outside of the office, the social events provided opportunities for summers to speak with associates and partners honestly, and to network in a more organic way.”

Throughout the summer, we sponsor a variety of lunches in local restaurants, as well as dinners at partners' homes to help foster a sense of community. But the experience goes beyond these gatherings—in each city, we host a broad range of interactive social events because we genuinely believe that these events help bring our summer associate class together and plant the seeds for lifelong friendships. Our goal for every summer associate is to create opportunities to interact with a broad representation of the Simpson Thacher community. At the end of the summer, we want our summer associates to feel comfortable choosing the Firm as a whole.

In recent years, New York summer associates have attended office-wide events at the Museum of Natural History and Central Park Zoo; watched Yankees and Mets games from luxury suites; and enjoyed a private event at Shake Shack, followed by a production of Shakespeare in the Park or a performance of Hamilton. They have sailed the Hudson River on a private boat and participated in various smaller, informal events, such as dinner parties hosted by partners, private movie screenings, cooking classes, and group SoulCycle classes. Each year our summer associates are welcomed by all New York partners at our annual dinner.

Bay Area summer associates spend the first half of the summer program together in Palo Alto and the second half in San Francisco. They have cheered on the San Francisco Giants, participated in a line dancing class on our beautiful new Palo Alto office patio, spent a day touring Napa Valley wineries, explored San Francisco Bay by private boat, took part in a floral arranging workshop, and participated in other impromptu activities throughout the course of the summer.

Boston's summer associates have taken in the city skyline on a private sunset cruise, cheered on the Red Sox and enjoyed a concert at Fenway Park, learned to make their own dumplings in a private cooking class, tried their hand at crafting cocktails and mocktails during a mixology experience, attended musicals, and dined at some of Boston’s most sought-after restaurants. They have also enjoyed dinners and happy hours with each practice group, as well as a variety of other activities that have provided meaningful opportunities to get to know their colleagues, build lasting relationships, and experience the Firm's collaborative culture firsthand.

Houston’s summer associates have cheered on their teams at Houston Astros and Dynamo games; gathered for Texas line dancing, pickle ball, and private golf lessons; bonded at wine tastings, casino night and local museums; and dined at Houston’s most celebrated restaurants. They have also enjoyed dinners hosted by the Houston partners, as well as a variety of other activities that have given them the opportunity to get to know their colleagues and experience the Firm’s culture.

In Los Angeles, summer associates have cheered on the LA Dodgers and Los Angeles Football Club, enjoyed a night at the legendary Magic Castle, spent a day at Disneyland, attended concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, competed in a game night at a partner’s home and participated in other impromptu activities throughout the course of the summer.

In Washington, D.C., we were thrilled to welcome our summer associates for ten weeks of learning, collaboration, and memorable experiences. Program highlights included a Washington Nationals game at Nationals Park, a SoulCycle class, a private mixology class, a trip to Six Flags with fellow summer associates, and Casino Night – the office’s annual end of summer program celebration – all while building meaningful connections with colleagues across the firm.