A Summer at Skadden, Arps

In addition to a full scholarship to USC Law, Frank Rothman Scholars receive a Summer Fellowship, which includes a guaranteed job with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom during the summer after their first year of law school. With offices all over the globe, Skadden is one of the top law firms in the world; Corporate Board Member magazine recently named Skadden the top corporate law firm in the nation. To learn more about Skadden, visit the firm's Web site.

Here's what past Rothman Scholars have said about their summers at Skadden:

Andrew Elken, 2006 Rothman Scholar

The opportunity to work at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as a 1L is an invaluable aspect of being the Frank Rothman Scholar. Summer associates at Skadden are given a high level of responsibility from the beginning and they are fully immersed in the firm's sophisticated cases and deals. It was a tremendous learning experience to be able to try different types of assignments and to develop a better understanding of what makes each department unique. Throughout the summer, I completed a research memo for a case in the litigation department, I worked on a private equity acquisition and a subsidiary IPO in the corporate department, and I worked on several pro bono matters. In addition to being intelligent and hard-working, all of the attorneys in the Skadden LA office were really helpful and social, and there were plenty of formal and informal events to get to know everyone. Finally, one highlight of the summer was spending a week in New York with all of the Skadden summer associates worldwide and listening to a speech by Joe Flom, a legendary M&A partner and the firm's first associate.

Abe Tabaie, 2005 Rothman Scholar

During my first summer at Skadden, I worked on one of the first stock-option backdating cases that began to show up in the news more and more often. I also was given my own pro bono assignment, helping out a local community group. The best thing about working at Skadden was that all of the work I did was cutting-edge. I was asked to make creative arguments and think outside the box. In fact, working at Skadden led to my note topic for the Southern California Law Review, which will be published in spring 2008. I returned to Skadden during my second summer and found the work to be excellent once again. I was able to continue the same pro bono project I worked on during the previous summer, which was great. I also wrote a portion of a first draft of a motion for summary judgment in a securities fraud case. Much of my writing survived until the final draft. During both summers, attorneys at Skadden treated me like a real associate: I got to do actual work on issues that interested me, not to mention have fun doing it.

Elizabeth Kimmelman, 2004 Rothman Scholar

The attorneys at Skadden were not only smart and accomplished, but also down-to-earth, friendly and fun to work with. I was able to do work in a variety of practice areas and on many interesting cases. Through my work at Skadden, I became more interested in and excited about a future career in litigation. I also got to know my fellow summer associates very well, and ended the summer with friends in law schools around the country.

Jennifer Gulick, 2003 Rothman Scholar

The best part of being the Rothman Scholar for me has been getting to work for Skadden. I don't think Skadden is the type of firm I would have sought out if I had been left to my own devices: it's one of those "big, scary" New York law firms that I thought was full of people who work too hard and yell at their underlings a lot. In truth, Skadden is full of people who work very hard but who do so in an atmosphere where everyone is on the same team, right on up to the partners. It is also a place for cutting edge legal work - every assignment is an intellectual challenge. It is such a great fit for me and I would never have even given them a chance if I hadn't been a Rothman Scholar.

Everyone has very fond memories of Frank Rothman, and they love to tell stories about him, but I have to be careful because some people still get teary-eyed when they think of him and remember that he is gone. He was very much loved at the firm. One of the more touching moments I had this summer was when his former secretary stopped by my office to introduce herself and meet me. She just wanted me to know a bit about Frank Rothman and about how much the staff had appreciated the courtesy and respect with which he treated everyone, and to say how nice it was to have the Rothman Scholars working at the firm.

Douglas Strasnick, 2002 Rothman Scholar

Only a few fortunate individuals get the opportunity to be a Summer Fellow after their first year of law school. As the inaugural Frank Rothman Scholar, I spent my summer at the Los Angeles office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. During my summer fellowship, I was immersed in the everyday culture of cutting-edge legal life. I worked on cases and issues that my friends and family were watching on ESPN, reading about in the Wall Street Journal, and listening to on NPR. I observed and participated in depositions, adoptions, conference calls, and deal-making meetings.

I also experienced the camaraderie of the Skadden team outside of the office. I played in company tennis matches, attended major theatrical productions, and dined at L.A.'s finest sushi restaurants with other summer associates and Skadden attorneys. At Skadden, I furthered my interest in litigation, developed a new interest in labor and employment law, and built a strong network of professional contacts. Ultimately, my summer experience was not only important to my development as an attorney, but also extremely beneficial to my growth as a student and as an individual.