At Bilzin Sumberg, between the substantive assignments, attorney tag-alongs, and packed calendar of firm events, one unwritten rule quietly reigns supreme: lunch.

While nobody will hand you a checklist or mandate it, the firm advocates for summer associates to grab lunch with as many attorneys as possible throughout the program. With two-thirds of the summer behind me, I can happily report that I have not gone a single day without sitting down for lunch with at least one attorney (and from what I can tell, my fellow summers are holding the same streak). That’s no accident; it’s a reflection of the kind of culture Bilzin Sumberg actively cultivates.

So, if you’re an incoming summer associate, a law student considering the firm, or just curious as to what it’s like to be well fed, here’s a simple, two-step guide.

Step 1: Reach out.

It sounds obvious, and at first it may feel intimidating to blindly reach out, but don’t overthink it. Every attorney I’ve approached has been genuinely enthusiastic about getting lunch. A quick email or a stop by someone’s office and to introduce yourself is all it takes. Just plan the lunch!

Step 2: Pick a spot.

Summer in the Magic City means you’re spoiled for choice. Here are the two standout stars from the rotation:

Felice — practically attached to the building, Felice is the neighborhood anchor of Bilzin Sumberg lunches. The first lunch I scheduled with an attorney was here, so thanks for starting me off strong, Karyl Argamasilla. The fresh pasta and salads are excellent, and you’ll spot about ten familiar faces every time you walk in. A word of advice: if you’re grabbing lunch with Melissa Pallett-Vasquez, ask her about her favorite Italian spot, Mamo. She’s a big fan of their Diet Coke.

Paper Fish — The firm’s go-to for sushi. My first mentor lunch with Sean Gleason was here, and I’ve probably been back about 5 more times. Simple, solid sushi. Fair warning: they recently changed the lunch menu and threw everyone for a loop. We’re still adjusting. However, I’ve been converted to a huge Obba fan over the last two weeks (thanks to Mike Morgan and Ethan Schwab). Sorry not sorry to all the Paper Fish loyalists out there.

Of course, Miami has more restaurants than we know what to do with, but given how good these two are and how close they are to the office, they’re where you’ll be enjoying a lot of your time.

Why We Love Lunch

What ties all of these meals together is something that goes well beyond the food. Each lunch is an opportunity to learn about a practice group you haven’t worked with yet, about someone’s path to the firm, or about what a career in real estate, litigation, or land use actually looks like day to day. More often than not, these conversations lead to new assignments, which deepen those relationships further. By the time the summer wraps up, the attorneys you lunched with won’t just be names on a firm directory, they’ll be people who know your work, your interests, and your potential. That, more than any single deal or memo, might be the most valuable thing a summer associate walks away with.