Voice of Maslon

From the moment I stepped into the On Campus Interview room and was exposed to Maslon for the first time, I knew there was something different about this firm. The attorneys from Maslon had a different demeanor than any of the other attorneys I had met. Maslon quickly became my first choice because I sensed that it would be the perfect environment to develop and grow as a young lawyer.

These initial reflections were confirmed when I began working there in the summer. The summer coordinators not only actively prepared an unbelievable range of experiences for us, but were there to answer any questions we had. They were also more than willing and ready to set up experiences in areas of law we were interested in, even if it was not part of the original summer plan. Weekly exposure to different practice areas piqued my interest in areas that I never would have considered interesting. This exposure was not only through work assignments, but through presentations from some of the most talented attorneys in the country.

The work that I was assigned was perfect to facilitate my growth as a legal thinker—challenging, but fascinating. I can truly say that I never once received work that I found boring or unfulfilling. Maslon invests a great deal in their Summer Associates. This is proven by the fact that they are willing to let them work with firm clients. Because of this real interaction, every project has real impact. Not every firm can offer a Summer Associate this sense of purpose to their work. I do not believe I would have developed nearly as much as a Summer Associate had I been given canned projects, or rotated through a program without time to truly reflect on my work and the impact I just made in someone's life.

All of this was guided by the most welcoming and experienced mentors a Summer Associate could ask for. Assigned mentors were there at every point in the summer to help me succeed, but in addition, there was a different partner to mentor me during each individual assignment. These partners introduced me to and guided me through the new area of law that I was set to embark in. Feedback from these leading attorneys was the greatest way to critique my work and make drastic improvements in ten weeks to my own research, writing, and advocacy.

Maslon is known for its culture. A culture that creates an environment that fosters the strong and efficient development of attorneys. This not only shows through during the Summer Associate Program, but through the vast array of powerful clients that put their trust in the firm and the quality of work that those clients receive. I could not have imagined a better summer. I am glad I made the choice to be a Maslon Summer Associate.

Nathaniel Ajouri
Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Class of 2019