Summer Associates Program is Back in Action!

Street Law’s Summer Associates Program, which connects summer associates from DC law firms with youths participating in DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program, commenced on July 10. The program teaches young people important lessons in employment law and conflict resolution in the workplace, while enhancing the experiences of law firm summer associates by creating an opportunity for them to use their legal knowledge to connect to the community.

This summer the DC offices of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Hogan Lovells are participating. Street Law staff trains summer associates in interactive teaching methods and provides step-by-step lesson plans on relevant topics that the youths can use in both their workplaces and their everyday lives. Over the course of four weeks, the young people visit the law firms to work with the summer associates to learn about employment law, advocacy, and conflict resolution. The program’s culminating event is a “negotiation showcase” where the teens demonstrate the skills learned throughout the program.

The District agencies participating in the 2013 program include Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Office of Cable Television, Human Resource, IRS, and Central Intelligence Solutions.

Youth participants from summer 2012 who worked at the DC Office of Cable Television made a video to illustrate the importance of understanding employment law and being able to resolve conflict peacefully and productively.

Image Caption: 2012 Summer Associates Program