Summer Legal Associate
Overview
The Summer Legal Associate Program places law students directly into the firm’s active tax resolution, tax planning, audit defense, and advisory caseload. This is a paid position designed to give 1L, 2L, and 3L students substantive legal experience in a client-facing practice. You won’t shadow — you’ll draft, research, and contribute to real matters under direct attorney supervision from day one.
The program runs 8–10 weeks over the summer. Associates work full-time, are compensated at $25.00/hour, and may be eligible for academic credit through their law school’s externship or field placement program.
What You’ll Do
Summer Legal Associates receive assignments based on the firm’s active client matters, providing exposure across multiple practice areas rather than a single rotation. Depending on caseload, your work may include:
- Researching and drafting legal memoranda on federal and state tax issues
- Preparing IRS correspondence, installment agreement requests, offer-in-compromise analyses, and penalty abatement arguments
- Assisting with audit defense — organizing client documents, researching IRS audit procedures, and drafting audit response letters
- Reviewing and drafting entity formation documents, operating agreements, and small business contracts
- Conducting research on estate planning, gift tax, and trust administration issues
- Participating in client intake, issue-spotting, and case strategy discussions
- Observing and, where appropriate, participating in client meetings, IRS phone conferences, and hearings
You will also complete a self-paced training course during your first weeks covering IRS practice and procedure, Circular 230 fundamentals, the firm’s research methodology, and professional development skills that carry well beyond this program.
Program Structure
- Orientation & Training (Week 1): Onboarding, firm systems, intern handbook, and the start of your self-paced training course
- Supervised Legal Work (Weeks 1–10): Ongoing assignments across the firm’s practice areas, with increasing responsibility as you develop
- Weekly Check-Ins: One-on-one meetings with your supervising attorney to discuss assignments, feedback, and professional growth
- Mid-Program Review (Week 4 or 5): Formal written and verbal evaluation covering your performance, strengths, and goals for the remainder of the program
- Final Evaluation (Final Week): Comprehensive written review of work product quality, professionalism, initiative, and practice-readiness
Qualifications
We are looking for law students who want to learn by doing. Specifically:
- Currently enrolled as a 1L, 2L, or 3L at an ABA-accredited law school
- Interest in tax law, tax controversy, small business advisory, or estate planning
- Strong legal research and writing skills
- Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple assignments
- Professional communication skills — you will interact with clients and opposing parties
- Prior tax coursework or experience is a plus but not required; we will train you
Compensation & Details
| Compensation | $25.00/hour |
| Schedule | Full-time, 35–40 hours/week |
| Duration | 8–10 weeks (early June – early/mid-August) |
| Location | Rockwall, Texas |
| Academic Credit | Available where permitted by your law school |
To Apply
Submit the following materials through the application form below:
- Resume
- Brief cover letter/statement of interest (tell us why this program and what you want to get out of it)
- One legal writing sample
- Unofficial transcript
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The priority deadline is January 15, with interviews conducted January through March and offers extended by March-April.