Who We Are

At Benesch we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and building trust not only with our clients but with our employees - Benesch's #1 asset. Committed to providing not only the highest level of legal service to our clients, Benesch also aspires to create a positive work environment for our employees. Our Firm continues to earn placement on Chicago and Cleveland's Top Workplaces list, along with Cleveland's NorthCoast 99 Top Workplaces rankings. We also continue to advance on the AmLaw 150 list, placing us among the top 150 law firms in the country.

Benesch is proud to be recognized for being a Firm that attracts and retains top talent - making Benesch a great place to work. We offer a hybrid schedule, career development and growth, transparent and visible leadership teams, and a place where diversity, equity and inclusion is celebrated. In addition, the Firm offers a full array of benefits which can be viewed at www.mybeneschbenefits.com.

Working with Us - Come and "Be Benesch!"

We are one of the fastest growing firms in the nation, and have offices in Chicago, Columbus, San Francisco, New York City, and Wilmington. We continue to expand our geographic footprint and value the talent that comprises each of our locations. If you are someone who champions a First in Service approach and are ready to be part of an exciting and growing Firm, we would invite you to apply to join our team.

Want to know more? To hear from some of our team, click here: https://www.beneschlaw.com/careers/index.html

Benesch is proud to announce the opening for a Summer Associate Program Manager in our Cleveland office! This position is hybrid and has work from home flexibility.

Position Summary:

Do you enjoy the fast pace and hustle and bustle of program management? Do you feel accomplished by putting together, running and managing graduate level programs for college students to help develop them as future employees? Are you looking to work with a professional development team to ensure graduate students have an enriching experience during their summer clerkships? Then you may be interested in Benesch's Summer Associate Program Manager position. This role is perfect for the person who wants to oversee summer programs involving future Benesch attorneys.

The Summer Associate Program Manager is responsible for implementing and managing the summer associate program firmwide, including onboarding and integration, professional development, work allocation, and performance evaluation processes. The manager will work closely with the Director of Law School Recruiting, local Hiring Committee Chairs, and other key program stakeholders to evaluate and enhance programming on an ongoing basis to ensure an enriching experience that prepares summer associates for a full-time associate role at Benesch. The manager will also work closely with our Professional Development team to plan and implement our first-year associate program and integration plan, helping to ensure a seamless transition from summer associate to a full-time associate role.

Essential Functions:

1. Lead the planning and implementation of the summer program schedule.

a. Develop and implement the summer associate program schedule, including orientation, professional development programming, social events, work allocation, and performance review meetings.

b. Coordinate with various departments and practice groups to ensure a comprehensive and engaging program, providing summer associate with a well-rounded view of the firm.

c. Manage logistics for program activities, including event planning, venue booking, and materials preparation, with support from local office team members.

2. Manage summer associate onboarding, integration, and retention.

a. Coordinate with HR, IT, and other departments internally to ensure a smooth onboarding process, including pre-employment requirements and technology needs.

b. Plan and implement a robust orientation schedule that provides a comprehensive introduction to the firm and the tools needed to succeed as a summer associate.

c. Check in regularly with summer associates to ensure they are receiving the support, interaction, and resources they need to succeed.

d. Travel to Benesch office locations throughout the summer to attend summer events/meet with summer associates and local program stakeholders in person to ensure a positive, consistent experience across offices.

e. Communicate regularly throughout the school year with outgoing and incoming summer associates to maintain engagement.

3. Plan and coordinate the mentorship and professional development programming for summer associates.

a. Pair summer associates with mentors/buddies and monitor mentoring relationships to ensure productive and supportive experiences.

b. Develop structured mentorship activities and programming.

c. Plan and implement professional development workshops and training sessions tailored to the needs for summer associates, including the mid-summer retreat.

d. Coordinate with our DEI committee and liaisons to plan and implement diversity related programming for summer associates.

4. Oversee the summer associate work allocation and performance management process.

a. Administer the work allocation process, managing and assigning projects to ensure an equitable, well-rounded, and robust work experience for each summer associate.

b. Work closely with assigned attorney work allocation liaisons to manage any workload issues and provide guidance to summer associates as they manage their workloads and client needs.

c. Monitor summer associate performance through regular check-ins with summer associates, mentors, and assigning attorneys, and monitoring written performance evaluations.

d. Seek and encourage feedback from assigning attorneys.

e. Address any concerns or issues raised by summer associates, assigning attorneys or mentors, ensuring a positive and productive work environment.

5. Oversee the planning and execution of summer associate events.

a. Plan the summer event schedule, including social events, networking opportunities to build relationships with attorneys, and team building activities to foster a sense of community and engagement among summer associates.

b. Coordinate with vendors and internal team members in local offices to ensure seamless execution of events.

6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the summer program and provide recommendations for changes and enhancement.

a. Gather feedback from summer associates, mentors, and other stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of the program.

b. Identify other areas of improvement and implement changes to enhance the summer associate experience.

c. Take an active role in NALP to be an industry expert in law firm summer programs, keep up with trends, and bring new ideas and suggestions to the team.

7. Manage law clerk program for law students who work part-time with the firm throughout the school year.

a. Oversee onboarding for clerks, including identifying a practice group work allocator to oversee work assignments and projects.

b. Check in regularly with clerks to ensure a positive experience, providing advice and guidance as needed.

8. Working with the professional development team, assist with the transition and integration from summer associate to first-year associate.

a. Collaborate to ensure the first-year training program is synergistic with and builds upon our summer associate training program.

b. Assist with the onboarding and integration of our first-year associates, including orientation, general practice work allocation, and regular integration meetings. Meet regularly with our first-year associates to ensure they are being appropriately integrated into work and relationship building, and discuss important integration topics to support their successful transition into an associate role.

c. Help support the first-year associate program in other ways as needed.

9. Maintain expenses and monitor budget.

Additional Responsibilities:

1. Assist with special projects as needed.

2. Perform other duties as assigned.

Confidentiality:

Due to the nature of your employment, various documents and information, which are of a confidential nature, will come into your possession. Such documents and information must be kept confidential at all times.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred; 5 years of experience in program management, recruitment, or talent development, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment. Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and manage deadlines. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software. Ability to travel as needed and work overtime/evenings periodically required.

Benesch is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (where applicant is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations), medical condition, protected veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require special assistance or an accommodation during the process due to a disability should contact the Benesch Human Resources Department by phone at 216-363-4578 or email at cwatson@beneschlaw.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities