At most midsized and large law firms, the summer program is the most significant source of new associate hires. In fact, summer programs are often the main emphasis of a firm's recruiting process. Both the law student and the firm have the opportunity to evaluate one another directly. For law firms, the summer program provides a means by which to observe a law student's work product, work ethic and fit with the firm. Most projects assigned to summer associates involve a written work product.
Many firms assign projects through an attorney who acts as an assignment coordinator.
In other words, the assignment coordinator receives projects from attorneys throughout the firm and assigns them to summer associates, usually based on summer associates' interests and the work needs of the firm. Typical summer associate projects include researching and writing traditional legal memoranda, drafting pleadings and briefs, and drawing contracts and corporate or partnership documents. A summer associate's written work product is a major evaluative factor in determining whether a summer associate will receive an offer from a firm. Your written work product creates an impression that you will leave with the firm when you return to law school at the end of the summer. It is extremely important that you understand the project assignment.