Law Clerk and Summer Associate Training Curriculum

What a good one includes

• A week-by-week breakdown detailing specific learning objectives, expected project hours, and weekly themes.
• Real-world drafting exercises, such as mock briefs, client memos, and deposition prep templates, accompanied by clear evaluation rubrics.
• Administrative and legal technology onboarding modules covering document management systems, specialized research platforms, and time-tracking software.
• A formalized mentorship and feedback schedule pairing associates with both partner and associate mentors for weekly check-ins.
• Professional development seminars focusing on legal ethics, writing style, professional etiquette, and practice group overviews.
• Standardized mid-term and final evaluation templates that provide structured, actionable feedback on writing, research, and collaborative skills.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on ad-hoc, last-minute research assignments instead of mapping out structured, progressive drafting projects.
• Omitting training on basic administrative skills, such as how to properly track time, use internal databases, or format legal documents according to firm style guides.
• Postponing constructive feedback until the final week of the program when it is too late for the associate to correct their performance.
• Overloading the curriculum with social events at the expense of substantive, billable-equivalent legal work.

Frequently asked questions