TMBA’s inaugural 2022 Summer Associate Program was a big success and we are currently conducting exit interviews. TMBA designed the Summer Associate Program to provide Black law students with substantive legal and professional experiences to support their development as attorneys. Summer Associate Program participants are provided the opportunity to work under the guidance of Program Partners as part of a six (6) to eight (8) week, full-time program. After successfully interviewing with TMBA and Summer Associate Program Partners, the following six law students were selected to join this year’s program: Charnell Gilchrist, Kevin Harris, Alexandra Jara, Lauren Peterkin, Omar Rizk, and Brittany Stroud.

TMBA Summer Associates attended an orientation with Summer Associate Program Co-Chairs Melonie Jordan, Vice President, and Rebekah Thomas, Immediate Past President, who presented insightful tips to assist them in having a successful summer. To prepare our students for the Summer Associate Program and the beginning of their legal careers, TMBA provided each student: two sets of business cards, a personalized business card holder, professional name tags, a leather briefcase, and a personalized padfolio. In addition, students serving as Summer Associates at public interest organizations received a $3,000 stipend.

TMBA wishes to thank the following sponsors for supporting the 2022 Summer Associate Program:

• Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
• Crowell & Moring LLP
• Dorsey & Whitney LLP
• Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

We have already begun planning for the 2023 TMBA Summer Associate Program, and invite all interested employers to join us! Our goal is to have more summer placements so that we provide practical training to more law students. All employers, including, sole proprietors, small firms, big law, public interest and government are encouraged to become Program Partners. Keep watching this space for the announcement of our 2023 program.