"Firms' varied progress on adopting and integrating AI into their workflows directly impacted summer associates' experiences: Some firms encouraged frequent AI use while others appeared to shun it altogether. Summer associates were also split on how they viewed AI, with a majority feeling equal parts hopeful about the technology's potential to make lawyers more efficient and concerned about it eliminating entry-level roles."
"And in the background, law firms' handling of scrutiny from the Trump administration earlier this year remains imprinted in the minds of summer associates. Asked to what extent a firm's response to political and social pressures influenced a summer's ultimate employment decision, 31% of summers said it would "moderately" impact their decision, 21% said they'd weigh firms' actions "significantly," and 13% said it would factor in "extensively." By comparison, 35% of associates rated firms' actions as not influential or slightly influential in their employment decision."
Summer 2025 programs returned to lavish in-person experiences, including luxurious boat trips and Beyonce box seats. Firm reputation remained a top priority for summer associates alongside impressive social events. Firms showed varied progress on adopting and integrating AI, directly affecting summer associates' day-to-day experiences and training. Many firms encouraged AI use while others avoided it. Summer associates felt both hopeful about AI improving efficiency and worried about the technology eliminating entry-level roles. Law firms' responses to scrutiny from the Trump administration influenced many summers' employment decisions to varying degrees.
Read at Above the Law
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