The Summer Apprenticeship Program at Day Pitney

Day Pitney LLP has changed how it runs its summer program by returning to the tradition of legal apprenticeship. The idea behind the move was to provide you, the law student, with the practical, hands-on training necessary to become a great lawyer.

At Day Pitney, we focus on the development and education of our attorneys, and we stress the importance of working as a team to achieve the best results for our clients. We have developed a summer program designed to reflect these key values. It emphasizes teamwork, as well as learning by observation and interaction with practicing professionals. For this reason, we no longer refer to law students as summer associates, but instead refer to them as apprentices. In this way, we are getting back to the basics and returning to our tradition of legal apprenticeships.

What is the Summer Apprenticeship Program at Day Pitney?

The Summer Apprenticeship Program at Day Pitney is a ten-week program designed to prepare you for the practice of law through real life, day-to-day applications, and on-the-job training. Apprentices will learn by shadowing Day Pitney lawyers and working with firm professionals in one-on-one coaching scenarios. You also will collaborate with lawyer teams handling ongoing client matters. This practice-based learning approach will be supplemented with training workshops, as well as specially designed diversity and community service activities, which will teach apprentices about Day Pitney's culture and key core values. You will socialize and network with Day Pitney attorneys at various internal and external activities.

Which Day Pitney offices will have apprentices?

The Summer Apprenticeship Program will take place in our Hartford, CT, and Parsippany, NJ, offices.

Who are the apprentices?

Apprentices are law students who are selected through the fall interview process.

How is The Summer Apprenticeship Program structured?

The Summer Apprenticeship Program at Day Pitney consists of two training modules, with approximately half of the summer devoted to each. One module will focus on transactional work and the other module will focus on litigation work. The modules will feature either distinct departments or combinations of complementary practice areas. A sampling of primary modules might include:

1. Corporate and Business Law/Energy
2. Financial Services
3. Real Estate, Environmental and Land Use
4. Commercial Litigation and Employment Law
5. Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property
6. Individual Clients

The modules are designed to give you the opportunity to work closely with seasoned Day Pitney professionals in specific practice areas. Within each module, there is a team of partners, associates, and counsel who have been specially chosen to work with apprentices based on their experience, seniority, effective mentoring skills, and commitment to the program.

What type of training will the apprentices receive in an apprenticeship module?

There are "four pillars" that support apprentices training within each apprenticeship module. The four pillars approach will allow you to receive a well-rounded and in-depth training experience within the module practice area(s).

Pillar I – Practice Area Training
Each apprentice will benefit from hands-on experience and exposure to substantive matters. As part of this experience, you will be involved in at least one active case or transaction within your practice area. Apprentices will also work on research and writing assignments. In addition, you will accompany attorneys to depositions, client meetings, and other shadowing opportunities. The apprentices additionally will attend practical training workshops designed to further the understanding of the law related to the module. For example, apprentices may have training on drafting pleadings for a litigation module and drafting basic transactional documents for a business module.

Pillar II – Core Value Training
Apprentices will be involved in pro bono assignments and group community service projects which are key components of the firm’s core values. You will learn about Day Pitney's culture and key core values by participating in specially designed diversity, community service, and pro bono projects. Each apprentice will receive at least one pro bono assignment which will help bolster your understanding of the assigned module practice area(s).

Pillar III – Client Development Training
Being an apprentice at Day Pitney means you will be provided with client development training and opportunities to network with colleagues and other professionals. As part of the client development training, you will learn how lawyers market their skills. You will have opportunities to practice these skills during the program. Apprentices will attend at least one out-of-office networking event with module team members to network with colleagues and other professionals. In addition, apprentices will participate in one client development opportunity such as proposal writing, client presentations, and public speaking.

Pillar IV – Law Firm Management/Economics Training
In addition to learning how to become a good lawyer, you will have an opportunity to learn how a law firm is managed and how you can help to contribute to a successful legal enterprise. You will attend a tutorial explaining how associates fit into the framework of business, and how individual contributions translate into financial success for the firm. Apprentices will also receive training on the topics of time-entry skills, e-mail and voicemail etiquette, time management, and the importance of professional goal setting.

How will the apprentices benefit from the Summer Apprenticeship Program at Day Pitney?

By being fully immersed in practice areas of the firm, apprentices will get an accurate perspective of life as a junior associate, an experience that a traditional assignment-based program does not always provide. Apprentices will gain first-hand knowledge of what it is like to work within a practice area at Day Pitney. They will learn by doing and gain knowledge through training and working with highly-experienced Day Pitney attorneys who know what it takes to be a successful lawyer. This well-balanced, all-encompassing approach will prepare them to become quality junior-level attorneys.

How can candidates apply?

Interested candidates who attend the law schools from which we recruit we recommend you sign up through their career services offices to be considered for on-campus interviews. Please click here for a list of schools and job fairs at which we interview. Those candidates who are from schools at which we do not participate through on-campus interviews or resume collections we recommend you apply online.

If you have questions or need further information, please contact:

For the Parsippany, NJ, office:
Marilyn Olivo
Day Pitney LLP
One Jefferson Rd.
Parsippany, NJ 07054-2891
molivo@daypitney.com
Phone: (973) 966 8318
Fax: (973) 966 1015

For the Hartford, CT, office:
Jill Little
Day Pitney LLP
242 Trumbull Street
Hartford, CT 06103
jlittle@daypitney.com
Phone: (860) 275 0468
Fax: (860) 275 0343