What is a Summer Associate?
In the legal profession, summer associate positions provide law students with hands-on experience working for a law firm in the summer after their second year of law school. These positions are opportunities to experience life as an attorney firsthand, allowing students to embed themselves in a firm to do much of the same work they will likely do as a full-time associate post-graduation.
Like an apprenticeship, the summer associates work side-by-side with our attorneys and develop an appreciation for the unique aspects of practicing law at WilliamsMcCarthy in Rockford. Experiencing the culture and clients of Wilmac is not only valuable for the summer associates, but the firm also can assess the abilities of summer associates to be successful once they graduate, pass the bar, and are ready for the practice of law.
Meet Kyle Cunningham
Kyle Cunningham is one of two summer associates at Wilmac this year. Kyle hails from Skillman, New Jersey and is a proud Aggie, earning his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M before attending law school at the University of Wisconsin.
Kyle was motivated to study law when he saw firsthand the impact the profession has on the lives of people. A small business for whom he worked was forced to shutter operations because the employer didn’t understand the potential ramifications of a contract. He then understood the law as a tool to help people and solve a multitude of problems.
When selecting where he wanted to apply for a summer associate position, Kyle put WilliamsMcCarthy at the top of his list because of the firm’s reputation, breadth of practice areas, and talented attorneys from whom he was excited to learn.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the inner working of the law firm and how we can help clients achieve their everyday goals,” shared Kyle. “This is also an opportunity to experience a firm with similar values, and I’m eager to apply my talents in an environment that places the highest importance on meeting the needs of clients through the legal system.”
In addition to the real-world experience he’ll gain over the summer, Kyle is very much looking forward to exploring Rockford and working downtown. He characterizes the community as diverse, energetic, and vibrant and is eager to take part in the City’s great summer events and of course, amazing restaurants.
Welcome, Kyle!
