Summer Program

Purpose

Our summer program is designed to provide law students with a realistic picture of life as an associate at Bass, Berry & Sims and to assess a candidate's ability to contribute to our firm.

Summer Associate Class Size/Offers for Permanent Employment

Throughout the years, we have sustained an impressive class of summer associates.  In 2007, we had a record 46 summer associates.  This year, we had 31 summer associates - 27 in Nashville and four in Memphis. Summer associates do not compete for positions within our firm, the expectation being that most candidates will receive an offer at the end of the summer. By looking at past trends, we are able to determine our future hiring needs and satisfy most of our needs from the summer program.

Summer Associate Program Events/Opportunities

The summer associates have numerous opportunities to meet the attorneys and to be introduced to our firm through training and mentoring, work assignments and various activities that are planned throughout the summer.
  • Training/Mentoring
    Our summer associate program is structured to offer a comprehensive overview of our various practice areas.  Prior to joining us, we ask the summer associate to identify whether there are areas of practice in which he or she has particularly strong interests.  We then choose a partner mentor and an associate mentor to oversee the experience for each student.  This involves monitoring his or her work assignments, providing opportunities for the summer associate to interact and work with attorneys throughout the firm and identifying non-traditional projects for the summer associate, such as observing and participating in closings, depositions, client meetings, trials, etc.  This system allows for flexibility if the summer associate is interested in multiple practice areas.  Also, as an extension of our professional development program, summer associates are invited to attend all training sessions that occur during the program (both firmwide and departmental-sponsored).
  • Social Events
    During the summer, our firm sponsors a variety of social events to help the summer associates become better acquainted with the attorneys and their families.  Past events have included:
    • Tours of Frist Center for the Visual Arts
    • Firmwide Party on Shelby Street Footbridge
    • Stax Museum
    • Courthouse Lawn Party
    • Concerts (i.e. Gin Blossoms, Kenny Chesney, BeyoncĂ©)
    • Performances at Tennessee Performing Arts Center
    • Receptions at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
    • World Cup Soccer Tournament
    • Antioch Middle School - volunteer clean-up day
    • Luau Party @ attorney's house
    • Courthouse Tours
    • Civil Rights Museum
    • Memphis Redbirds Games
    • Nashville Sounds Games
    • Nantahala River Trip
    • Rock Island - Center Hill Lake Trip