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• Summer Associate Program

Summer Associate Program

Each year, Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox (MGKF) is looking for the top law students across the country with an interest in a career-long pursuit of excellence in environmental and energy law.  With more than 30 years as a leading national environmental law practice, MGKF aims to recruit the very best future lawyers and to train those individuals on the key principles of the environmental law industry.  Our primary office is located just outside of Philadelphia, and we aim to recruit law students with a willingness to settle in the Philadelphia area long-term.  If you are at the top of your class and have high standards and a creative mind, we would like to meet you—and you would probably like to meet us. MGKF attorneys are smart, focused, creative, and enjoy a unique balance between their work and the rest of their lives. Diversity candidates are encouraged to apply.

About the Program
As a specialized environmental and energy law practice, our summer program is kept generally small, up to a maximum of four law students—a mix of 1Ls and 2Ls. This size allows us to provide each summer associate with a high level of individual attention and to tailor legal work uniquely to each associate’s areas of interest. In addition, it affords each summer associate an opportunity to work closely with attorneys at all levels of experience, from senior partners to junior associates, and to gain invaluable mentoring from these different experiences. Summer associates get to know our firm by getting to know our entire team, not just a few representative lawyers.

We provide our summer associates with diverse training and development opportunities. We typically begin our summer session with a two-day introduction to environmental and energy law, with nearly a dozen mini courses directed by our attorneys.  This introduction provides our summer associates with background information on our practice areas.  Throughout the program, summer associates participate in additional training courses and in our weekly training lunches for the full legal and technical staff, where current and emerging practice issues and business developments are discussed. Additionally, we offer numerous opportunities to attend, observe, or participate in out-of-office proceedings such as hearings, depositions, meetings, or conferences.

Summer associates are assigned work typical of that performed by a first- or second-year associate, with additional guidance appropriate to the student's level of experience. Assignments cover a broad spectrum of areas which may include (1) litigation matters, (2) regulatory and/or transactional matters, (3) site remediation matters, (4) client counseling, (5) negotiations with government agencies, (6) contract drafting, and (7) research and analysis.  Research and writing are also important components of our summer associate experience. We work with the students to develop their skills in these areas while they produce several written work products and reviewed by senior lawyers.

Constructive feedback is invaluable to our summer associates and we believe it is a critical tool for development of our future lawyers. Therefore, in addition to providing feedback during the course of assignments, once completed, the assigning attorney will review performance with the summer associate and provide constructive guidance. Further, each summer associate receives individual, formal evaluations at both the mid-point and conclusion of the program.  Every summer associate has an associate and partner mentor who help guide and support them throughout the summer.

Benefits of Being on the Team at Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox

The "open door" culture of our firm means more meaningful interaction with all members of our firm, from junior associates to senior partners. Our compensation package is competitive with larger general practice firms in the region. There is a warm, collegial atmosphere throughout the office.

We offer more than just work experience during the summer as our summer associates are encouraged to participate in a variety of social and recreational activities with the lawyers and staff, such as concerts, baseball games, museum and local history tours, golf, dinners in town or at partners' homes with lawyers and their spouses, and many other social activities. In addition, summer associates are invited to attend functions of environmental organizations and bar associations. At the conclusion of your summer at MGKF, you will know many of us individually and understand our philosophy of practice.

How to Apply
For information on how to apply to our summer associate program, please see our Law School Recruiting page, or contact our hiring partner whose contact information is listed on this page.

TESTIMONIALS

Karina Zakarian, Summer 2024
My opportunity at Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP this summer proved incredibly rewarding. I came to law school eager to explore the nuances of environmental law, and MGKF enabled me to not only pursue this interest, but develop my legal writing skills, conduct thorough research, and collaborate with bright-minded colleagues. I enjoyed working on a variety of assignments ranging from litigation to regulatory matters, visiting sites, and attending group meetings to discuss strategies for best aiding clients. The attorneys and staff at MGKF were personable and kind; I sincerely appreciated the welcoming environment they provided, the comfort I felt in asking questions, and the tailored feedback I received on assignments. As I transition into my second year of law school, I am more confident in my own abilities and grateful for my summer with them.

Kelly Hanna, Summer 2022
Eight weeks at MGKF were well spent this summer. The collegiality was apparent instantly, as everyone at the firm welcomed the summer associates and took a genuine interest in getting to know us.  I appreciated being trusted to handle complex and meaningful assignments dealing with a variety of legal issues as well as all the opportunities to sit in on depositions, mediation meetings and oral arguments.  Partners, associates, and technical experts made themselves available to answer questions and provide consistent and tailored feedback throughout the summer.

Reilly Wright, Summers 2022 and 2023

The program provided us with the unique experience of working on assignments that were used in ongoing litigation as well as regulatory and transactional matters. I really valued the opportunity to work with and learn from multiple partners at the firm, who took the time to teach me and provide constructive feedback on all of my work. As a 1L student, the summer program provided me with an unmatched experience that many of my peers did not receive in their first summer.

I witnessed the family-oriented mentality at the firm immediately upon arrival. Not only is the firm welcoming but everyone here wants to help you succeed and cares about you as a person. The open-door policy at the firm provided me with the unique opportunity to discuss various legal issues and get feedback from experts in their field.  I returned a second summer and further developed legal skills through work on ongoing matters at the firm, experienced client meetings and site visits, and gained exposure to cutting edge issues in weekly training sessions. 

Brielle Brown, Summers 2020 and 2021
My experience at Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox was outstanding despite an ongoing pandemic and time of uncertainty for many law students.  I was provided with ample opportunity to not only improve my legal skills, but to also connect with colleagues to gain insight about their professional journeys. I appreciated the time partners took to read over my work and provide feedback about what could be improved. Although much of the work was virtual, it was extremely evident that that family-oriented spirit of the firm was stronger than ever. As a rising 3L, I could not feel more prepared about my future legal career after my summers with Manko Gold.

Read past summer testimonials.

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