As we approach the application deadline (January 17) for the first week of our Virtual Spring Recruitment Program (VSRP), we are sharing details we have gathered about registered employers and planned summer program size through our employer outreach efforts.
As you may know, on-campus recruiting has evolved this year. For starters, interviews will not be conducted on campus but through Zoom or FloRecruit, hence the new name—VSRP. Also, between the pandemic and economic slow-down, many employers, especially those seeking 2Ls, have shifted their recruiting timing from late summer and early fall to early spring semester.
Way way back in the summer of 2019, law firms and other employers interviewed 2Ls in August and September for internships to be held the following summer. Traditionally, about 10% of the class secured summer positions through Fall OCI. The rest of the class found positions through recruitment programs such as GPIIP, through advertisements on Symplicity or other aggregators, and through proactive networking or direct applications.
Then the pandemic hit, and students and employers alike waited to see how it would impact summer employment. Those in the class of 2021 who had secured summer associate positions with law firms through OCI began to learn about program changes in the spring. Most firms pushed back their start date multiple times. Some firms shortened their programs from 9-10 weeks to 4-5 weeks. Some programs shifted to a fully remote format, while others were in person or a hybrid. Some firms cancelled their summer programs, and we worked with those students to find alternate employment.
In addition, as detailed below, some employers that traditionally have participated in on-campus recruiting at Richmond and other schools chose to conduct their hiring process differently this year. For example the Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) was postponed from July to October. So, some firms already have filled some summer associate slots with candidates from that program and other pre-recruiting efforts.
Below you will find a list of employers recruiting Richmond Law students through VSRP and some details about their programs. Note this list includes those interviewing during Week One, with an application deadline of 11:45 pm on Sunday, January 17. A future column will detail employers interviewing in subsequent weeks.
Hirschler (Interviews on Jan. 27)
Hirschler plans to host three or four summer associates for its Richmond office. The firm already has hired a couple of 2Ls through SEMJF and return offers, and will be interviewing at four other schools in January. To learn more about their summer program, click here. Richmond Law grad Cheryl Atchison (L’15) shares her summer here.
Hirschler did not hire a Richmond Law student last summer but welcomed one 2020 graduate as a new associate this fall.
Hunton Andrews Kurth (Jan. 27)
Hunton is planning a 10 week summer associate program but has not decided whether it will be in person or remote. 2Ls interested in the Richmond office should apply through the OCI tab in Symplicity by Jan. 17. Applications for other offices (Washington, DC; Dallas; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; and New York) should be submitted as soon as possible through the Hunton website.
The Richmond office plans to host eight 2Ls and three 1Ls. Several 2L spots have been filled already through return offers, and the firm participated in SEMJF. In February, the firm will solicit applications via Symplicity from diverse students for its 1L LCLD program. Click here to learn more about the Hunton summer associate program.
Hunton hired one 2L and one 1L from Richmond Law last summer and welcomed two 2020 graduates as new associates this fall.
Kaufman & Canoles (Jan. 27 and Feb. 3)
Kaufman will host 10 students— six 2Ls and four 1Ls—this summer. Eight summer associates will be in Norfolk and two in Richmond. Three slots already have been filled by returning students. 2Ls should apply through the OCI tab in Symplicity by Jan. 17, and 1Ls should apply by Jan. 24. Click here for more information about the Kaufman summer associate program.
Kaufman hired two 2Ls from Richmond Law last summer and welcomed one 2020 graduate as a new associate this fall.
Troutman Pepper (Jan. 27)
Troutman will offer a 6-week program at the beginning of the summer, but may expand to its traditional 9-week program if public health circumstances allow. The firm plans to hire five to seven summer associates, with two of those slots already filled from return offers, and the firm participated in SEMJF. Click here for more information about Troutman’s summer associate program. Click here for the firm’s recruiting video.
2Ls interested in the Richmond office should apply through the OCI tab in Symplicity by Jan. 17 and specify their primary practice interest from among the following: Multifamily Housing Finance, Real Estate, Financial Services Litigation, Corporate & Securities or White Collar Litigation & Investigations. Applications for other offices (Atlanta; Berwyn, PA; Charlotte; Chicago; Harrisburg, PA; Los Angeles; Orange County; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Princeton; Raleigh; Virginia Beach; Washington, DC; or Wilmington, DE) should be submitted as soon as possible through the Troutman website.
Diverse 1Ls should submit applications for the firm’s 1L LCLD Scholars program by Feb. 1. See Symplicity Job Posting #25771 for the link to apply.
Troutman cancelled its summer associate program last summer but extended 2021 offers to the 1L and 2L who were scheduled to work from Richmond Law, and welcomed one 2020 graduate as a new associate this fall.
U.S. Army JAG Corps (Jan. 27)
Interested 1Ls should apply for an Army JAG summer internship through the OCI tab in Symplicity. The internship program will last 45 days starting July 6.
An Army JAG representative will also offer a virtual information session for 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls on Jan. 27 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. RSVP through the Events tab in Symplicity.
Venable (Jan. 27)
Venable plans to host three summer associates in the Tysons Corner office. Interested 2Ls should apply through the OCI tab in Symplicity by Jan. 17. Candidates for other offices (Washington, DC; Baltimore; New York; Los Angeles; or San Francisco) should apply through the Venable website as soon as possible. Click here for more information about Venable’s summer associate program.
Diverse 1Ls should submit applications for the firm’s 1L LCLD Scholars program through the Venable website.
Venable hosted two 2Ls in its Tysons Corner office and one 2L in its Washington, DC office last summer from Richmond Law and welcomed one 2020 graduate as a new associate this fall.
Willcox Savage (Jan. 27 and Feb. 3)
Willcox Savage plans to hire three or four 2L and one or two 1L summer associates for its Norfolk office, with one slots already filled through SEMJF. 2Ls should apply through the OCI tab in Symplicity by Jan. 17, and 1Ls should apply by Jan. 24. Click here for more information about the Willcox summer associate program.
Willcox did not hire a Richmond Law student last summer but welcomed one 2020 graduate as a new associate this fall.
Woods Rogers (Jan. 27)
Woods Rogers plans to hire three or four 2Ls for its Roanoke office. Click here for more information about the summer associate program. Woods Rogers hired three 2Ls from Richmond Law last summer but had to cancel its summer associate program.
Byrne Legal Group (Jan. 28)
Founded by Richmond Law alum Sean Byrne (L’97), the Byrne Law Group is interviewing 3Ls interested in litigation and health care for an entry-level associate position. Click here for more information about the firm.
FloranceGordonBrown (Jan. 28)
FloranceGordonBrown plans to hire two or three summer associates. Click here for more information about the firm. Last summer the firm hosted two 2Ls from Richmond Law in its Richmond office.
Christian & Barton (Jan. 29)
Christian & Barton plans to hire one or two 2L summer associates in its Richmond office. Last summer the firm hosted one 2L from Richmond Law. Click here for more information about the firm.
2L Resume Collects
Four firms are soliciting applications from Richmond Law 2Ls through the OCI tab in Symplicity and will schedule interviews independently with selected candidates.
Potter Anderson
Potter Anderson is collecting 2L applications through OCI in Symplicity for its Wilmington and Dover, DE offices. Click here for more information about the firm’s summer associate program. Potter Anderson typically hires 15 summer associates and hosted a 2L from Richmond Law during the summer of 2019.
Reed Smith
Reed Smith is collecting 2L applications through OCI in Symplicity and expects to hire two or three summer associates for the Washington, DC office. Diverse 1Ls are encouraged to apply to the 1L LCLD Scholars program. Look at Symplicity Job Posting #25945 for application information. Click here for information about the Reed Smith summer associate program. Reed Smith hosted a 2L from Richmond Law during the summer of 2019.
Richards Layton & Finger
Richards Layton & Finger is collecting 2L applications through OCI in Symplicity and typically hires 14-15 summer associates for its Wilmington, DE office. Click here for information about their summer associate program. Diverse 1Ls are encouraged to apply to the 1L LCLD Scholars program. Look at Symplicity Job Posting #25915 for application information. Other 1Ls may apply directly to the firm; see Symplicity Job Posting #26056 for application information. RLF hosted a 2L from Richmond Law during the summer of 2019.
Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis is collecting 2L resumes through OCI in Symplicity for its New York office. Click here for information about its summer associate program.
2019 OCI Employers
The following firms participated in 2019 On-Campus Interviews for summer 2020 but adjusted their hiring process for 2021:
Gentry Locke solicited applications directly from 2Ls for its Roanoke and Richmond offices. That posting in Symplicity expired on Nov. 2.
McGuireWoods is accepting 2L applications for its Richmond, Atlanta, Washington, DC and New York City offices through the firm website on a rolling basis. Diverse 1Ls are encouraged to apply to the firm’s 1L LCLD Scholars program by Jan. 15. See Symplicity Job Posting #25740 for the link to apply.
Williams Mullen solicited applications directly from 2Ls for its Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Raleigh offices. That posting in Symplicity expired on Jan. 4. Applications are due for the firm’s 1L Diversity Fellowship program on Jan. 27. See Symplicity Job Posting #26053 for the link to apply.
Cooley is soliciting applications for its 1L Diversity Fellowship program due Jan. 8. See Symplicity Job Posting #25735 for the link to apply. Applications for the firm’s 1L Patent Summer Program are due online on Jan. 15 for the Boston; Washington, DC; Reston; Palo Alto; and Seattle offices.
Allen & Allen will not offer a summer associate program for 2021 but plans to recruit for summer 2022 during Fall 2021 OCI.
For more information about CDO employer outreach efforts, please contact Carole Yeatts, Director of Career Development. For questions about VSRP applications or Symplicity, please contact Kym Osterbind, Recruitment Coordinator.