Voice of Maslon
At the beginning of the OCI process, I found it difficult to find any substantial differences between the Minnesota law firms—they all looked very similar on paper. So I sought the opinions of students, lawyers, and professors that I respected. Without fail, every single person had great things to say about Maslon. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised that my experience as a summer associate exceeded my already high expectations. I can honestly say that my time as a summer associate at Maslon was, by far, the most rewarding and valuable experience I've had during law school.
From the moment I started the summer program, I felt valued at Maslon. I was given three mentors—one associate, one partner, and a writing mentor—that were quick to answer any question I had and provide me with substantive feedback on my work. What's more, I soon realized that everyone at Maslon was more than willing to provide me with guidance and help me get the most out of my summer experience.
Having never worked in a law firm before, I was curious to see what type of work I would be assigned as a summer associate. Throughout the summer, I was exposed to a variety of different practice areas and I was pleased to work on large, substantive projects. Even though I hadn't yet finished law school, I had many experiences that made me feel like I was doing the work of a "lawyer." One of these moments really stood out to me. I was battling with a particularly difficult legal question, so I walked into the office of one of my mentors and asked for her advice. This led to a conversation with another Associate down the hall, which led to another conversation, which eventually led to the right answer. The next day, my mentor dropped by my office to check on me and asked how the research was progressing. As I quickly learned, this type of camaraderie was a common occurrence at Maslon.
The time I spent outside of the office was just as beneficial to my summer experience. I was regularly invited to observe Maslon attorneys in and out of the courtroom, and I was pleased to have face-to-face time with clients through the Volunteer Lawyers Network, Wills for Heroes, and the Federal Bar Association's Pro Se Project. The social events outside of work were equally as enjoyable. Whether it was a Twins game, cooking class, happy hour, or dinner at a partner's home, I valued the opportunity to get to know the attorneys on a more personal level. Many firms will tell you that they aim to provide their attorneys with a healthy "work-life balance," but few actually achieve it. Maslon is an exception—its attorneys are able to do complex, exciting work during the day, and at the same time lead interesting and meaningful lives outside of work.
My experience as a summer associate with Maslon is one that I'll never forget. The people at Maslon are open, professional, interesting, and incredibly knowledgeable, and I cannot think of a better law firm to work for. I would highly recommend Maslon's summer associate program to everyone.
Jeremy Krahn
Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Class of 2018