“Summer associates were encouraged to seek out projects that fit their interests and to develop relationships with lawyers at the firm who share these interests. Patton Boggs' lawyers welcomed those who took the initiative to learn about their field of expertise and were happy to provide opportunities for summer associates to work with them."

-Megan Sowards, 2008 Summer Associate, DC Office

ONE WORLD. INFINITE POSSIBILITIES.

Where others see problems, we see possibilities. Since 1962, Patton Boggs has been solving problems and creating opportunities for our clients around the world. Our diverse and talented team brings a novel approach to each matter, using myriad resources to find the best business solution. We have long recognized that combining substantive industry knowledge with business savvy, litigation prowess and public policy acumen sets us apart from other firms and enables us to achieve our clients' goals.

From our beginnings as an international law firm focusing on global business and trade to our current position as a full-service firm with a presence in nearly every major area of legal representation, Patton Boggs is known for taking a nontraditional approach. We value working with lawyers, staff and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and are proud to be a firm where geographic, political and practice-driven barriers have been removed.

POSSIBILITIES WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

Our program helps prepare summer associates for the practice of law and provides a clear and comprehensive understanding of what attorney life is like at Patton Boggs. Expect to be immersed in our culture and in the realities of being a lawyer. We have high expectations of our participants and full confidence in their abilities. The work is real, relevant and challenging, and it allows summer associates to work alongside some of the world’s most talented and well-respected attorneys.

We want each summer associate to work with as many attorneys in the firm as possible. This allows our participants to discover their own affinities for practice areas and chemistries with varying work styles.

Our summer associates are involved in a wide variety of issues, including:

• Financial services
• International dispute resolution
• Securities
• Corporate finance
• Administrative and regulatory
• Political asylum
• Defense and national security
• Mass torts litigation
• E-discovery
• Structured finance
• Islamic finance
• Patent litigation and enforcement

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Some say our selection process is meticulous. We place a great deal of emphasis on the interview process because we want to be able to extend permanent offers to every one of our summer associates. We intend for this careful selection to remove some of the pressure from summer associates so they can focus on forging closer bonds with their colleagues and enjoy a richer work experience without the distorting effects of an excessively competitive environment.

Our clients look to us for results that are above and beyond traditional legal solutions, meaning our attorneys are regularly challenged to be visionaries. This is a fundamental reason why we embrace attorneys with different backgrounds, talents, interests and personalities.

Successful summer associates share a few common traits, including:

• Impeccable communication skills
• Integrity
• Flexible and adaptive personalities
• Maturity
• Dedication and strong work ethic
• Sound judgment

HANDS-ON TRAINING

Patton Boggs appreciates the significance of both formal and informal coaching. Training is available in an abundance of areas such as legal writing, time management and presentation and deposition skills. Students are also introduced to a variety of specific areas of practice as well as the inner workings of a law firm.

• Attorney Mentors - Each summer associate is assigned a partner mentor and an associate mentor. The primary purpose of the mentors is to assist summer associates with acclimating to the firm.
• Writing Mentor System - Each summer associate is assigned a writing coach who is available to provide guidance, assessment and answers to legal writing questions.
• “Anatomy of a Law Firm” Presentations - Learn about the role of the firm’s marketing department, listen to our chief financial officer unravel the intricacies of law firm economics, or gain in-depth insight into firm management and the structure of our leadership.
• Seminar Series - Topics include legal research and writing, workload and time management, communication and presentation skills, the art of negotiation and business skills training.
• “Tag Along” Program - Partners are encouraged to bring summer associates to client meetings, depositions, client pitches, congressional hearings, oral arguments and more.
• Sit In - Summer associates are welcome to sit in on the same attorney in-house training sessions offered by Patton Boggs University.

ASSIGNMENTS THAT COUNT

We work on issues that make news. Our practice involves everything from resolving high-profile political disputes to structuring complex business deals to representing domestic and multinational corporations, sovereigns, and state and local municipalities. Summer associates are part of that work each and every day.

Examples of summer work assignments:

• Conducting legal research and analysis
• Drafting motions and briefs
• Attending hearings and depositions
• Participating in negotiation and strategy sessions
• Drafting contracts
• Tracking and analyzing legislation 
   

PRO BONO

At the heart of Patton Boggs’ reputation for passion and excellence lies the firm's commitment to local, national and international public service. Our award-winning pro bono program offers exceptional opportunities to test advocacy skills and, at the same time, allows summer associates to make a difference by giving back to the community. The firm expects that associates perform a minimum of 100 hours of pro bono service per year. This is just one reason why Patton Boggs has been consistently ranked at the top of the Quality of Life - Pro Bono category by Vault, Inc.

Summer associates have worked on pro bono cases in the following areas:

• Immigration
• Employment discrimination
• Native American rights
• Nonprofit corporate counseling
• Public benefits
• Wrongful imprisonment
• Economic development
• Civil liberties
• International human rights
• Domestic violence
• Capital punishment

PATTON BOGGS UNIVERSITY

Patton Boggs believes that the importance of ongoing education and training cannot be overstated. Ahead of its law firm peers, the firm created a program called Patton Boggs University (PBU), which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2010. PBU is recognized throughout the legal community as a model for organizational learning, professional development and personal enrichment. PBU acts as a catalyst for all Patton Boggs employees to reach their full potential by including training for attorneys in substantive areas of law in conjunction with job-related training for all staff. PBU orients the firm’s newer associates to company standards and nurtures them as lawyers, while providing continuing legal education opportunities for more established lawyers.

As a whole, the education gained from PBU is integral in empowering all employees with the ability to further the firm’s mission of providing exceptional legal services to its clients.

DIVERSITY AT PATTON BOGGS

At Patton Boggs we recognize that our power is in our people. We believe that diversity produces an inspired workplace—one that generates more creative thinking and better solutions. The firm sponsors fellowship programs for law students in partnership with such groups as the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, the National Council of La Raza and the firm’s own Patton Boggs Foundation. Additionally, the firm has instituted part-time and alternative work policies and implemented our own “Associate Path to Success” program to develop additional mentoring, professional development and work assignment initiatives.

Part of being a leader in diversity means living up to the responsibility, which is why Patton Boggs embraces and promotes a variety of organizations and initiatives that empower our people. We encourage and support employees who serve on boards, committees and other governing bodies within organizations that share the same commitment to diversity.

A snapshot of some of those we support includes:

• Colorado Campaign for Inclusive Excellence
• Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
• Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association
• National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
• National LGBT Bar Association
• National Hispanic Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association

LIFESTYLE

At Patton Boggs we understand that striking the right balance among work, home life and other pursuits is essential to ensuring happiness and success in each area. Because we understand the challenges our professionals face and encourage them to achieve this balance, the firm has been cited by many publications and organizations, including:

• Top Ten Family Friendly Firm, Yale Law School
• Top 20 DC Firm, Vault, Inc.
• Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity, Multicultural Law
• One of the Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyer
• One of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey, NJBiz
• Top 25 Firm in Denver, Denver Business Journal
• Top 100 Places to Work, Dallas Morning News

ONE FIRM. ONE COMMUNITY.

One Firm, One Community describes a firm in which geographic, political and practice-driven barriers have been removed, resulting in a culture of inclusion and open communication.

Click here for frequently asked questions  (FAQs).

Click here to download Power Up brochure

CONTACTS:
Click on the names below to contact our recruiters.

Kara Reidy
2550 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-457-6000
202-457-6315 (Fax)
kreidy@pattonboggs.com

Camin Ayres
2000 McKinney Ave
Suite 1700
Dallas, TX 75201
214-758-1500
214-758-1550 (Fax)
cayres@pattonboggs.com

Angela Welsh
1660 Lincoln Street
Suite 1900
Denver, CO 80264
303-830-1776
303-894-9239 (Fax)

Alyson Villano
The Legal Center
One Riverfront Plaza
Suite 600
Newark, New Jersey 07102
973-848-5600
973-848-5601 (Fax)

 
Anna Scarpa
1185 Avenue of the Americas
(between 46th and 47th Streets)
30th Floor
New York, New York 10036
646-557-5100
646-557-5101 (Fax)