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Lee Tonsmeire Castle

Lee Tonsmeire Castle

Recruiting Manager
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Summer Program

Bradley’s summer associates receive an in-depth introduction to the culture of a large, dynamic law firm.

Summer associates are asked to perform real, substantive work and are included in trials, depositions, closings, negotiations, and client conferences. Summer associates chart their own paths, with the opportunity to choose their assignments and gain experience with a variety of attorneys in many practice areas.

We also encourage our summer associates to socialize with our attorneys outside of the office to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a part of our firm. Summer associates are invited to participate in numerous events with our attorneys throughout the summer, ranging from community service opportunities to dinner at one of our lawyer’s homes.

Summer Program FAQ

Our Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Huntsville, Jackson, Nashville and Tampa offices will offer summer programs in 2024.

The 2024 summer program in Atlanta, Birmingham, Dallas, Houston, Huntsville, Jackson, and Tampa will be conducted from May 13 through August 16. The summer program in Charlotte and Nashville will be conducted from May 13 through August 2.

First-year law students are required to join the firm for a minimum of six weeks (and a maximum of 10 weeks) during the summer program dates.

First-year law students are eligible and encouraged to apply through On Campus Interviews (OCI) or directly

We hire 1Ls for all offices that conduct a summer program (Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Huntsville, Jackson, Nashville and Tampa).

Bradley visits law schools and job fairs each year to interview students and find qualified candidates for our summer associate program. We also look forward to meeting candidates at schools where we may not have the opportunity to interview on campus. If Bradley does not visit your school during on-campus interviews, you may submit your résumé using our electronic application process: Apply here.

Inclusion and diversity are core values at Bradley. Our firm’s success relies on the ingenuity, intelligence, and interpersonal skills of our people. By employing attorneys from a variety of backgrounds, we leverage a wide range of perspectives that help us achieve the results that we expect and our clients demand. Workplace diversity and inclusion are essential to our business strategies, professional ideals, and relationships with the clients and communities we serve.

For more information on Inclusion & Diversity at Bradley, please visit:

Each summer associate is assigned two mentors during the summer, a senior chair (typically a partner or counsel) and a junior chair (an associate). These individuals will serve as your mentors and advisors during the summer and are there to help introduce you to lawyers in the firm, assist with work projects, and provide overall guidance about the firm.

Summer associates are asked to perform real and substantive work and are included in trials, depositions, closings, negotiations, and client conferences. Summer associates are allowed to chart their own paths, with the opportunity to choose their assignments and gain experience with a variety of attorneys and practice areas. Your mentor will help select your first project of the summer. After that, we have a summer associate project database that will allow you the flexibility to choose a project that is interesting to you based on your practice area preferences. We encourage summer associates to try a range of projects from different practice areas over the course of the summer. Once you chose a project, you will work directly with the assigning attorney to complete the project and receive real-time feedback from the assigning attorney over the course of the project.

Your Career At Bradley

Bradley offers a professional work environment with challenging career opportunities. The success of our law firm is built on the exceptional talents of our people. We are committed to building a workforce that incorporates a variety of backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and perspectives, and that reflects the clients we serve.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The firm is an equal opportunity employer. We will recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression), marital status, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any legally protected status.

Benefits

Bradley offers medical plans, dental plans, and a vision plan. We offer participation in a health savings account, flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, and a 401(k) plan. Learn More

B-Well Program

Bradley offers an array of programs that help nurture a balance between employees’ professional and personal lives through a program called B-Well. Learn More

Accolades

Our clients rely on us for innovative, award-winning legal services that reflect a deep understanding of their business objectives. We are regularly listed in the top legal awards and rankings. Learn More
Diversity & Scholarships

Inclusion and diversity are core values at Bradley.

Inclusion and diversity are core values at Bradley. Our firm is committed to supporting a variety of pipeline diversity initiatives directed at recruiting diverse lawyers. In addition to recruiting events, sponsorships, and partnerships, Bradley awards two annual summer associate scholarships to law students who are committed to broadening the diversity of voices in the legal profession and within our firm.

For additional information on inclusion and diversity at Bradley, please visit the Inclusion & Diversity section of our website.

Bradley regularly participates in diversity-focused recruiting events and initiatives

  • Southwest Black Law Students Association (SWBLSA) Job Fair
  • National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) OCI
  • Lavender Law Career Fair
  • Sunbelt Diversity Program
  • Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) Information Sessions
  • Southeastern Minority Job Fair Interviews
  • Southeastern Minority Job Fair Panel
  • Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship Program / Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC Program)
  • Partnered with the Diversity Attorney Pipeline Program (DAPP)
  • 1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Program

Your Career At Bradley

Bradley offers a professional work environment with challenging career opportunities. The success of our law firm is built on the exceptional talents of our people. We are committed to building a workforce that incorporates a variety of backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and perspectives, and that reflects the clients we serve.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The firm is an equal opportunity employer. We will recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression), marital status, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any legally protected status.

Benefits

Bradley offers medical plans, dental plans, and a vision plan. We offer participation in a health savings account, flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, and a 401(k) plan. Learn More

B-Well Program

Bradley offers an array of programs that help nurture a balance between employees’ professional and personal lives through a program called B-Well. Learn More

Accolades

Our clients rely on us for innovative, award-winning legal services that reflect a deep understanding of their business objectives. We are regularly listed in the top legal awards and rankings. Learn More
Pro Bono & Community Impact

Everyone deserves equal access to justice.

At Bradley, we are forceful proponents of the ethical obligation to help address unmet legal needs of indigent individuals and charitable institutions. Our commitment to pro bono service in the communities where our lawyers live and practice is of vital importance to our attorneys and staff.

Among the many areas where our pro bono program supports people and groups in need of legal representation are death penalty cases, adoptions, evictions, human rights, privacy rights, prisoner rights, services for people in recovery from addiction, representation of start-up charitable nonprofits, and intellectual property work for low-income inventors, artists and entertainers.

For more information about our pro bono program, visit the Pro Bono section of our website.

Douglas Arant Public Interest Fellowship

Bradley’s commitment to pro bono legal work is one of our most deeply cherished values. The Douglas Arant Public Interest Fellowship, named after a founding partner who helped imbue the firm’s dedication to community service, offers Bradley summer associates the opportunity to work with public service organizations of their choice, subject to the approval of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. Some of the worthy organizations that have been approved as partners in our fellowship program include the Southern Poverty Law Center, Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama, and Legal Services of Alabama.

Fellowship recipients work a minimum of six weeks at a Bradley office and at least four weeks for their chosen organizations while still being compensated by the firm.

The number of fellowships granted each year is limited.

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

Students interested in applying for the scholarship should submit:

  • 1L Summer Associate Application: Apply here
  • Please submit a completed, PDF version of this document in the “Attachments” section under the “Arant Fellowship App - Please submit as a PDF *” option.

NOTE: Bradley does not accept email applications. You must complete the online summer associate application and include the supplemental PDF personal statement to be considered for the diversity scholarship.

Your Career at Bradley

Bradley offers a professional work environment with challenging career opportunities. The success of our law firm is built on the exceptional talents of our people. We are committed to building a workforce that incorporates a variety of backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and perspectives, and that reflects the clients we serve.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The firm is an equal opportunity employer. We will recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression), marital status, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any legally protected status.

Benefits

Bradley offers medical plans, dental plans, and a vision plan. We offer participation in a health savings account, flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, and a 401(k) plan. Learn More

B-Well Program

Bradley offers an array of programs that help nurture a balance between employees’ professional and personal lives through a program called B-Well. Learn More

Accolades

Our clients rely on us for innovative, award-winning legal services that reflect a deep understanding of their business objectives. We are regularly listed in the top legal awards and rankings. Learn More