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Godfrey & Kahn is proud of our long-standing relationship with the University of Wisconsin. Since founding partners Gerald Kahn, a University of Wisconsin Law School graduate, and Dudley Godfrey established the law firm in 1957, the firm has interviewed students from the Madison shcool. Phil LaFollette, the founder of our Madison office, was also a UW Law School graduate and three-term Wisconsin governor.
Since the very beginning, we have considered the UW Law School a partner in our commitment to provide the best service to our clients in Wisconsin and around the world. We believe the law school provides the best academic education and Godfrey & Kahn’s summer associate program and associate training provide the best hands-on education for Wisconsin lawyers.
Today, we continue the partnership with a strong alumni network of more than 80 G&K attorneys who are graduates of the University of Wisconsin Law School.
UW Madison Law School Fellowship – In 2004, Godfrey & Kahn established a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Law School to provide a full three-year scholarship to one student each year who enrolls as a participant in the Legal Education Opportunities (LEO) program, the umbrella group for law students of color at the University of Wisconsin. Fellowship recipients also receive mentoring from Godfrey & Kahn attorneys, as well as employment as a summer associate at the firm.
Click here for more information about the 2006 recipient of the fellowship.
Click here for more information about the 2005 recipient of the fellowship.
Click here for information about the 2004 recipient and here for his comments about his experiences at G&K.
Legal Education Opportunities Program – The firm is also a regular contributing sponsor of the activities of the LEO organization. Each year the LEO Banquet celebrates the contributions of the UW Law School toward opening legal education to qualified students of all backgrounds and to diversifying the legal profession in Wisconsin, the nation and the world.
Godfrey & Kahn Foreign Law Student Fellowship Program – Godfrey & Kahn provides an opportunity for one foreign graduate law student studying at the East Asian Legal Studies Center of the University of Wisconsin to work for the firm for a period of one month in a paid internship position.
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Second-year students: We have filled our 2008 Summer Associate positions.
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James Friedman - "Since I joined the Godfrey & Kahn Recruiting Committee seven years ago, we have focused much of our attention (and, successfully, I might add) on convincing the best and brightest UW Law School students to stay in Wisconsin, at Godfrey & Kahn. Our Fellowship in the Law is the latest example of our efforts.
"Many of our attorneys, myself included, have had the opportunity to work as summer associates at other law firms in Wisconsin and throughout the country. Those attorneys uniformly agree that Godfrey & Kahn's summer associate program is both the most educational and the most enjoyable program around. Our summer associates have the opportunity to work on real litigation and real transactions--often seeing the results of their hard work--while meeting a great group of attorneys and staff and enjoying a nice mix of social events that provide a meaningful opportunity to see the great cities in Wisconsin where Godfrey & Kahn has offices."
Brian Grill - "I was initially drawn towards Godfrey & Kahn because of its strong reputation. I wanted to work for a firm that would expose me to a complex and diverse array of client matters. Godfrey & Kahn fit the bill in this regard. In my time with the firm I have worked on a criminal sentencing, antitrust litigation and an acquisition of a Chinese corporation.
"However, my decision to work at Godfrey & Kahn was ultimately based on my interactions with the lawyers at the firm. To a person, the lawyers at Godfrey & Kahn impressed me with their professionalism, intelligence, and warmth. The accessibility of all of the lawyers at the firm is remarkable. From the newest first year associate to a senior partner, the lawyers at Godfrey & Kahn make a real effort to make summer associates feel like part of the team."
Choua Vang - "I was a second year summer associate in our Madison office of Godfrey & Kahn and really enjoyed my experience in a smaller office. I had an opportunity to work with and get to know almost every attorney. The summer program was really well designed and gave me a glimpse of life as a first year associate. Madison is also a wonderful city in which to practice law. In addition to the abundance of legal resources that are within walking distance of the office, such as the State Law Library, Madison offers many fun activities, especially in the summer. I now work out of the firm's Appleton office, but have fond memories of Concerts on the Square and trips to the farmers' market on Wednesdays!"
Joseph Wolfe - "I was drawn to Godfrey & Kahn because of its reputation for quality service and its location in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. As a summer associate I was introduced to the team atmosphere quickly and was assigned work in a variety of practice areas. I helped draft a financial institution's lending clause, helped determine the liability of a board of directors, assisted in will contest litigation, and drafted estate planning documents. I enjoyed the firm culture and was impressed with the professionalism of the attorneys and the quality of the summer program. The attorneys were accessible and took time to mentor us over the course of the summer. The firm left plenty of time to get acquainted with the city of Milwaukee. We attended a Brewers game, hiked the Ice Age Trail, played softball weekly, attended a Lakefront Brewery tour, and enjoyed many other firm events. I truly enjoyed my summer at Godfrey & Kahn and am now am a member of the Corporate Team in the firm's Waukesha office. "
Click here for more University of Wisconsin Alumni
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 Monica Santa Maria, a 2006 and 2007 Summer Associate, is in her third year at Wisconsin. She received an M.S. in Linguistics from MIT and earned her B.S. in Mathematics from Princeton. Bilingual in Spanish and English, Monica has used her skills in various positions as a Student Advocate and translator.
"I was primarily attracted by the breadth of the practice areas at G&K. Having only finished my first year, I am still unsure about which area of the law I'd like to concentrate my practice. I really appreciate not only the opportunity to try out so many different areas, but that the attorneys are willing to spend time making sure that I am comfortable handling the projects they assign.
"I've worked on a variety of projects from research on white-collar crime to media law to both plaintiff- and defendant-side class action litigation to attending meetings with new clients. However, above and beyond the substantive law that I've learned, I most appreciate the experience I'm gaining in how to juggle multiple projects whose deadlines may change due to an unforeseen development or to an unexpected complexity.
"Additionally, the firm encourages the summer associates to attend team meetings. These meetings are a great opportunity to not only meet the attorneys who practice in that area, but also to be exposed to the business of running a law firm. Topics that come up run the gamut from interesting new developments in the field to decisions about the periodicals the library should stock. I have friends clerking at other law firms and I feel as though they are more insulated from the day-to-day decisions of running a law practice than I am. G&K has a great atmosphere where the summer associates are always welcome to participate and to learn about any aspect of the firm, its clients, or its practice areas that interest him or her."
Eric J. Weiss is in his third year at the University of Wisconsin where he also earned a B.A. in Political Science. He was elected Editor-in-Chief of the Wisconsin Law Review. Eric has an Associates degree in Applied Science from the Community College of the Air Force in Montgomery, AL. A member of the Air Force Reserve, Eric has seen duty in Pakistan and Puerto Rico and was stationed at the 440th Reserve Airlift Wing at General Mitchell Field in Milwaukee and is currently stationed at the 115th Air National Guard Fighter Wing at Truax Field in Madison.
"Interviewing with and selecting a law firm for summer employment is a formidable task for law students. In short time and with little background information, law students must decide which firms are the most compatible with their career goals, personality, and work-life balance needs. The prospect of working at a particular law firm for the rest of one’s career is a distinct possibility, further increasing the significance of the decision. The wonderful part is that law students can find that right firm, and for me that firm was Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
"Godfrey & Kahn was just as interested in finding the law student that fit best with the firm as I was interested in finding the firm that fit best with me. I was instantly drawn to the personality and atmosphere of Godfrey & Kahn. Attorneys were friendly and professional, engaging and sincere. Open-door policies are a reality, not a myth, at Godfrey & Kahn. I regularly collaborated (and had lunch) with the most senior attorneys at the firm. Godfrey & Kahn also provided me with the opportunity to work in several different practice areas—drafting documents, attending court proceedings, authoring memoranda—in an effort to find the right practice area for me. In addition, I was greatly impressed with Godfrey & Kahn’s commitment to community development and pro bono service.
"With all of that and its sophisticated client-base, superb reputation, and dedication to providing quality service, Godfrey & Kahn is an exceptional law firm—the right choice for me. "
Adam J. Loomans is a third year at the University of Wisconsin where he also earned his B.S. in Philosophy and Legal Studies. He was elected president of the law school Mock Trial Team. Adam has clerked in various public institutions including the Wisconsin Innocence Project, Legal Information Center and Taycheedah Women’s Correctional Institution. He was also a legal assistant at Hayes, Van Camp & Schwartz, S.C. in Madison.
"All law students enter on-campus interviewing trying to find a firm that is willing to invest time and money into developing them as a lawyer. Maybe, if they are lucky, they will find a firm that trains all associates with the expectation that they will someday become a partner. Undoubtedly, all firms says they will provide these opportunities. The key is to realize that firms do everything in their power to put their best foot forward. Luckily for me, from the first time I met the attorneys at Godfrey & Kahn, I knew that Godfrey & Kahn earned its reputation by building the firm on solid principles. Simply put, Godfrey & Kahn provides a pleasant work atmosphere, a comfortable lifestyle, complex work, and opportunities to succeed.
Now that I have completed my 2L summer clerkship with Godfrey & Kahn, I can honestly say that my expectations were surpassed. Godfrey & Kahn was built and continues to grow by hiring intelligent, dynamic and personable attorneys. Attorneys at Godfrey & Kahn, including senior shareholders, are not only personable but enjoy summer associates stopping in their office to invite them to lunch or to discuss an assignment. More importantly, however, Godfrey & Kahn is completely open and honest when it comes to expectations. Attorneys describe assignments in detail and provide summer associates with every opportunity to succeed. If you are looking for a firm that cares about you beyond your attributes as a lawyer, then Godfrey & Kahn is definitely a firm to interview with. "
Wendy Sullivan Richards is a third year at the University of Wisconsin where she clerked during the school year at the Unemployment Appeals Clinic. She was elected as the Senior Note & Comment Editor of the Wisconsin Law Review. Wendy earned her undergraduate in biology from the University of Chicago. She also clerked for the Illinois State Attorney’s Civil Division Office.
"The summer program at Godfrey & Kahn reminded me of why I went to law school. I had daily interaction with talented, intelligent attorneys, worked on project assignments that translated into actual results for clients, and had the opportunity to learn about a variety of legal areas. Our summer program also had a lighter side. I became very familiar with the Milwaukee dining scene, learned how to play bocce all, and caught a large fish in Lake Michigan on our fishing trip. As the summer progressed, I knew that I had made the right decision to come to Godfrey & Kahn. The firm has the perfect mix of great people and interesting legal opportunities, and really made me feel welcome as a summer associate."
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