The summer associates take a picture with their mentors at the Welcome Reception.

After a week full of fun and informative orientation sessions, the Summer Associates are ready to delve into our assignments! However, I first wanted to reflect back on our first week at the firm. As Summer Associates, a main focus is to make sure that we meet all of the attorneys and staff at the firm as everyone is an integral part of the success of the firm. Despite being a mid-sized firm, Bilzin Sumberg has a small-firm feel in that everyone knows each other very well. The first event of the summer that allowed us a chance to mingle and introduce ourselves was the Annual Firm Diner which conveniently took place the Saturday before we began the summer program. This year’s Annual Firm Dinner took place at the Bass Art Museum. The night was filled with great food, adult beverages, and a beautiful venue with contemporary art exhibitions. Most importantly, this gave us an opportunity to meet various attorneys within the firm before we even began working! Being invited to such an important event for the firm really set the tone for the rest of the summer. That is, we were being welcomed into a firm that was just as excited to have us as we were to join the firm!

While the annual firm dinner was an amazing way for us to become acquainted with some of the attorneys at the firm, our first official welcome was the Wine and Cheese Happy Hour on Thursday (this was much needed after various orientation sessions).  At the Happy Hour, we were introduced to a room full of Partners, Associates, and staff by our mentors (thanks, Desiree!). It was so comforting to see how much of the firm came out to help welcome us for the summer!

Feeling so welcomed to the firm our first week is such an indescribable feeling. On behalf of my fellow Summer Associates and I, thank you to everyone at Bilzin Sumberg for such a warm welcome. As a Summer Associate, I really look forward to meeting everyone in the firm and working with as many attorneys from the different practice groups as possible. My first step in this endeavor is getting to know everyone on the 24th floor. Side note: this is harder than it seems as we have already gotten lost on the 24th floor alone!