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The summer associate program for law school students historically has marked the first real-world experience for those training for the profession.
Law students, typically in their first or second year, are brought into firms for the summer, introduced to practicing attorneys and given practical experience. If they prove to be a good fit, they typically are offered a full-time job after graduation.
But the tough economy has changed the way summer associate programs are structured, recruiters from New Orleans' largest law firms say. From scaling back on the number of summer associates as well as shortening the program's length, many firms are carefully choosing their hiring prospects and monitoring their bottom line more closely.
Chaffe McCall is the...