Summer Associate Program

Stites & Harbison is committed to fostering professional growth, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and developing the next generation of legal talent.

We are seeking candidates who demonstrate the skills and commitment to deliver the Ten Imperatives of Client Service and contribute to our culture of practice excellence, hard work, mutual respect, and teamwork. As a Summer Associate, you’ll have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, receive hands-on experience, and build valuable relationships with experienced attorneys.

Legal Work: As a Summer Associate, you will support attorneys by drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, preparing client memoranda, and assisting with trial or transactional matters. We do not use a formal rotation system; instead, assignments and observation opportunities are distributed at weekly Summer Associate meetings.

Feedback: We place a strong emphasis on an individual’s ability to receive and utilize constructive feedback. Summer Associates will receive written evaluations for individual assignments and two writing samples (submitted mid- and end-of-summer). These evaluations are designed to provide valuable insights into performance and areas for improvement on future work assignments. While formal reviews occur twice during the program, we encourage Summer Associates to seek ongoing feedback throughout the summer.

Mentorship: Each Summer Associate is paired with an Associate mentor who will offer guidance on the firm’s culture, office operations, work product expectations, and various service areas

Social and Networking Events: Throughout the summer, we host a variety of social events designed to help you connect with colleagues and learn more about the firm. In addition to happy hours, past activities have included a private reception at Churchill Downs, tickets to the CMA Awards, attendance at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals oral arguments, and participation in our firm’s softball league.

Stites & Harbison adheres to all NALP interview and hiring guidelines. For more information, please review the NALP Principles for a Fair and Ethical Recruitment Process.

We participate in job fairs and conduct on-campus recruitment at various law schools throughout the country. Additionally, we encourage qualified applicants to apply directly.

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to Recruiting Manager, Susan Nalley, at snalley@stites.com with the subject line “Summer Associate Application.”

• Cover letter (indicating preferred office(s), reasons for wanting to join the firm, and your goals as a summer associate)
• Resume
• Law School and Undergraduate Transcripts

We currently host summer programs in the following offices: Atlanta, GA; Lexington and Louisville, KY; and, Nashville, TN.

Stites & Harbison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or regional origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by law.