Stay Informed
Join our mailing list today
As a summer associate with Rhoades McKee, you will be exposed to all our interdisciplinary teams that represent families and individuals, emerging businesses and large corporations.
While your summer will certainly involve research and writing on a wide range of legal problems, you will also work alongside attorneys who have been recognized for their excellence by peers and professional organizations such as Martindale Hubbell, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. In addition, you will have the opportunity to attend court appearances, client meetings, depositions, mediations, practice group meetings, and professional association activities. Throughout the process, you will be paired with mentors who will provide assistance and feedback in completing assignments and help you identify resources available in the firm and the community.
“One of the things I appreciate the most about my summer at Rhoades McKee was that I was not limited to a specific practice group. I had the opportunity to do numerous projects for shareholders and associates relating to medical malpractice, estate planning, personal injury, family law, real estate, and business. Having the opportunity to gain experience in different areas helped me narrow down my true passions. I genuinely do not think I would have had the same experience anywhere else.”
— Emily Felton, 2023 Summer Associate
“Rhoades McKee is a wonderful place for any law student to come and learn what it truly means to be an attorney. From day one, I was tasked with completing the work of a first-year associate, but I was never left out on my own. Everyone at the firm is willing to answer questions and provide help. Additionally, the mentor program meant that there was always someone I could rely on for help if the need arose. Rhoades McKee provided an outstanding summer experience that provided me with skills I could not learn in law school and will stay with me for the rest of my career.”
— Clayton Burnheimer, 2022 Summer Associate
“My legal education and skills grew by leaps and bounds in working for Rhoades McKee as a fall associate. The program not only gave me a real sense of working as a lawyer, but the opportunity to explore many different areas of law, practice groups, and approaches. Rhoades McKee’s associate program truly sets itself head and shoulders above the rest with its knowledgeable mentors and hands-on learning – I could not have asked for a better experience.”
— Elizabeth Badovinac, 2021 Fall Associate
“The Summer Associate Program at Rhoades McKee provided a great opportunity for me to explore different areas of the law through hands-on experience. I appreciated that I was able to work with attorneys in all of the firm’s different practice areas. This helped to affirm my interest in certain areas of law while also introducing me to new practice groups that I grew to enjoy. The attorneys trusted me with real legal work and were extremely helpful in teaching me both how to produce excellent work product and how to navigate client relationships. From the very beginning of the summer, I felt welcomed at the firm and like I was a valuable member of the team.”
— Claire Thiel, 2024 Summer Associate
“The Summer Associate Program at Rhoades McKee provides the opportunity to work on meaningful projects across a variety of practice areas in a setting where personal interaction with attorneys is prioritized. All of the resources you need to have a valuable and fun summer are provided. Whether you are more interested in transactional or litigation work, you will be able to work with experts in both areas on projects that set you up for long-term success.”
— Nate Davis, 2024 Summer Associate
Social activities vary each summer but typically include attendance at the firm’s summer event, golf outings, professional networking events, participation in the corporate cycling or running teams and receptions. Many opportunities are available for volunteer service work through various community non-profit organizations with which the firm and its members have on-going relationships.
Nothing feels better than working in and being part of a vibrant city; a place brimming with events and activities from downtown to the lake shore. If you haven’t visited Grand Rapids, Michigan lately, you’re in for quite a surprise. There are a variety of different housing options available from downtown to the suburbs.
If you are a second-year law student with an interest in exploring more about our firm and the community, please email a letter of introduction, writing sample, transcript, and resume to Jen Westra, Human Resources Manager at jwestra@rhoadesmckee.com