Summer Associate Program
The Summer Associate Program is a long-established tradition treasured by Rogers Towers. Our Summer Associate Program is a two-way education process. Summer Associates will learn about the day-to-day operation of an established law firm and receive as large a dose of hands-on experience as they are ready to undertake. For our part, we hope to learn enough about our Summer Associates to invite them to join us when the time comes.
Participating in the Summer Associate Program is part of a formal education. We do our best to give Summer Associates exposure to various departments and specialties, in hopes that they will find their own niche that they will enjoy.
Why Choose Rogers Towers?
Established in 1905, Rogers Towers is North Florida’s largest law firm. Over the past ten decades, we have worked hard to build long-term relationships with our clients and members of the local community. We want our clients to enjoy the confidence of knowing that the lawyers they work with today will serve them for years to come. This is why we strive to recruit the most talented law students and provide them with solid training, mentorship and resources necessary to have a successful career.
Recruiting Committee
The Recruiting Committee is primarily responsible for interviewing and employing Summer Associates and interviewing and recommending employment of Associates for permanent positions. The members of this Committee are very active in the Summer Associate Program and are ultimately responsible for all summer activities. The members of this Committee are also responsible for establishing and implementing a plan for the summer, which includes coordinating all of the firm-sponsored social events, conducting regularly scheduled Summer Associate meetings, monitoring progress and performance and providing feedback to Summer Associates.
What We Are Looking For
We are also looking for people with a strong desire to spend their career in Northeast Florida and to help make Jacksonville and the surrounding communities a better place to live.
The Interview Process
First round interviews
- On campus interviews at schools from which we have had the most success recruiting qualified candidates in the past.
- If we will not be interviewing at your particular school, we also accept resumes, which should be addressed to:
Rogers Towers, P.A.
Attn: Human Resources/Recruiting
1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 1500
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
The Process
Step 1: On-campus or first round interview. Most of our on campus interviews are with two attorneys. If the first round interview is done in our office, the formality will vary and can range from two attorneys to 2-3 interviews with two attorneys each.
Step 2: Offers to come in for a second round interview will be made throughout the recruiting season.
Step 3: Second round interviews are in our Jacksonville office and usually consist of 4-5 15-minute interviews with 2-3 attorneys each, and lunch. The goal is to have the candidate meet a wide range of attorneys at the Firm.
Step 4: Offers are made throughout the recruiting season.
What to Expect Upon Hire
Each Summer Associate will have both a Shareholder and an Associate Mentor. These Mentors will help to ensure that their Summer Associate feels welcome; assist in setting up lunch engagements; act as a sounding board for concerns or questions regarding firm policies, resources, members, norms and traditions; provide informal feedback regarding work or any other matters, and assist in obtaining feedback from attorneys regarding the quality of the Summer Associates’ work product; attend as many of the planned social activities as possible; facilitate getting their Summer Associates involved in whatever activities are planned; maintain an “open door” policy; and offer suggestions regarding working relations with the support staff.
Throughout the summer, all of the Summer Associates will gather for a meeting every other Friday with one or more members of the Recruiting Committee. At these meetings, each Summer Associate will be asked to share one or two of the more interesting assignments which he or she had during the previous week, followed by a group discussion.
These meetings are designed to obtain feedback from the Summer Associates and coordinate assignments for the coming weeks. Therefore, Summer Associates are encouraged to candidly discuss any subject, for example, an area of the law in which they have a particular interest or a particular attorney with whom they would like to work. Throughout the summer, we encourage Summer Associates to contact their Mentor or a member of the recruiting Committee at any time with questions or concerns.
Professional Activities
Summer Associates participate in a variety of professional activities during their time with Rogers Towers. These activities are a great way to get exposure to the day-to-day operations within a law firm as well as the outside legal environment. A few of these activities include:
- Participation in the firm’s department and practice group meetings
- Exposure to a variety of practice areas
- Hands-on work
- Opportunities to produce various legal documents
- Participation in a variety of research projects
- Exposure to court system and Judges
- Attend local Bar and Trade Association events
- Client office visits and meetings
Social Events
The Rogers Towers social activities represent a few of the traditions and past times, which help build camaraderie and new relationships among the Summer Associates and lawyers at Rogers Towers.
In addition to spontaneous lunch and dinner gatherings, we organize social events that provide opportunities for Summer Associates to get some good practical experience in the sort of activities that often involve attorneys and their clients.
Some of these firm-sponsored activities include:
- Summer Associate Introduction Reception
- After Hours Socials
- Entertainment and sporting events
- Fishing trips
- Golf
- Tennis
- Baseball games
- End of Summer Associate Retreat
Summer Associate Training
All associates go through an orientation and training upon hire. Several of the topics covered include: the business of the practice of law; practice management; professional responsibility/risk management; mentoring program and evaluation process; marketing and business development; professional relationships; and all computer support and research programs. We also provide training in Microsoft Office, Outlook, iManage, Elite Webview, Legal MacPac and more.
Testimonials
“I was very impressed with the balance in the summer program. Summer associates at RT get exposure to all practice areas by performing a wide variety of legal work with each practice group. In addition, each summer associate is afforded ample time outside the office to explore the town and socialize with other attorneys from RT and local law firms.” - Steven Kelly, Associate (Summer 2005)
“I clerked for two major law firms before spending my last summer with Rogers Towers. The summer associate program at RT really stood out from the other firms and helped me jump start my career through a heavy emphasis on developing the writing and analytical skills required of excellent lawyers.” - Adrian Rust, Shareholder (Summer 1995)
Summer Associate Inquiries
Please check back in the Spring for Summer Associate positions that are posted on this page.
