Summer 2007
Meet Our 2007 Summer Associates
The members of this year's class are Erin D. Bennett, Hope T. Bennett, Margaret Cohen, Amy Y. Kang, Jennifer Martinez, Colleen M. Phillips and Christian K. Wrede.
To learn more about our summer associates, including their reasons for selecting Hanson Bridgett as the place to spend the summer of 2007, click on the name links above or scroll down to see the entire class.
Our 2007 summer associates enjoy a wine tasting with Hanson Bridgett attorneys and staff.
Erin D. Bennett
University of San Francisco Law School (J.D. Candidate, 2008); Princeton University (B.A., English, 2002)
I chose to spend my summer at Hanson Bridgett because I truly enjoyed the people I met during my interviews. Working at the firm this summer has confirmed my initial impression. Their people are friendly and genuine. Many are accomplished musicians or athletes who actively maintain these pursuits. And, while people take their work seriously, they make time to laugh. Fortunately, the summer class also reflects these characteristics-sincere, interesting, and approachable.
One unexpected aspect of the summer program is the diverse work I have received. The summer coordinators have gone out of their way to give me assignments in my areas of interest. In addition to research memos, there have been opportunities to draft corporate agreements and ordinances, and to write articles for publication. Other work has involved attending client meetings, court, and educational seminars.
In my spare time, I enjoy Bar Method and food.
Hope T. Bennett
Stanford Law School (J.D. Candidate, 2008); Yale College (B.A., History, 2000)
I was introduced to Hanson Bridgett at the San Francisco minority job fair and interviewed with several attorneys at the firm before the start of on campus recruiting. My work experience prior to law school taught me how important it is to feel comfortable around fellow employees, and I had no doubt that I would feel right at home with the people at Hanson Bridgett. My positive impression of the firm from those interviews set the standard for the many Bay Area companies that I spoke with throughout recruiting season. I found that the respectful, friendly, and responsive work environment at Hanson Bridgett was rarely duplicated.
This summer, the attorneys that I have worked with have gone to great lengths to ensure that I understand the impact of my projects and that I receive the guidance and feedback that will help strengthen my skills. While this has made for a great learning experience, interacting with the attorneys both on a professional and personal level has made for a fun and inspiring summer. The firm's choice of creative and dynamic summer associates truly reflects Hanson Bridgett's attorneys, who are diverse in their talents, passions, and interests.
Margaret Cohen
Stanford Law School (J.D. Candidate, 2008); Sarah Lawrence College (B.A., Liberal Arts, 2001)
Amy Y. Kang
Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D. Candidate, 2008); University of California, Berkeley (B.A., Political Science, 2003)
When deciding which firms to apply to last year, I wanted to find a firm that appreciated diversity and encouraged its attorneys to develop their skills at work, as well as achieve a work/life balance. Of course, every firm Web site touted its collegial environment, great "culture," and commitment to diversity and pro-bono activities. However, upon visiting firms' offices, only one seemed to live up to its promise. Hanson Bridgett is truly committed to creating a diverse and collegial environment. The associates at Hanson Bridgett exemplified what I hope to be as a young attorney- challenged but well-guided, working hard for the firm but also for the community, and most importantly, satisfied with their work as well as their lives outside of the office.
After my first few weeks at Hanson Bridgett I knew that it was the right place for me. The firm provided me with challenging assignments, as well as support and mentorship. The staff, associates, and partners were easily accessible, and always ready to help. Hanson Bridgett also made sure that my fellow summers and I had fun experiences outside the office. We had fabulous outings and events, which allowed us to get to know each other, as well as the rest of the firm. I'll have many fond memories from my summer at Hanson Bridgett, especially of the "Best Event of the Summer."
In my free time I enjoy cooking, baking, event-planning, music, and reading.
Jennifer Martinez
Stanford Law School (J.D. Candidate, 2008); University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., Communication Studies and Sociology, 2004)
Initially, I chose to interview with Hanson Bridgett on the strong recommendation of one of my best friends at school. He had nothing but good things to say about the work, the attorneys, and the firm culture, so I didn't hesitate to look into Hanson Bridgett in the fall interviewing season. I also wanted a firm that had a strong commitment to pro bono work and a good reputation for diversity.
Having previously summered at another firm, I knew that I was primarily interested in labor and employment law. I wanted a firm that had a strong labor and employment practice, with interesting clients and challenging work. I found it surprising that very few Bay Area firms fulfilled all my criteria. Hanson Bridgett, however, definitely did. Even during callbacks, I knew that Hanson Bridgett would be a great fit for me. I felt welcomed and comfortable with every attorney I spoke with. Everyone was excited about their work and genuinely happy to be at the firm, which you don't often find in private practice at major firms.
My experience at the firm this summer only reinforced my first impressions. Hanson Bridgett has big-name, interesting clients, but still maintains the close-knit, community feeling of a smaller law firm. Right from the start, I was given the opportunity to participate substantively in this work. I was surprised that I was able to work directly with so many partners, and it was refreshing that all of them were concerned not only with me getting real work, but also with me enjoying myself during the summer. The summer program coordinators and my mentor were equally supportive and were more than happy to chat with me anytime I stopped by. I also had a great writing coach, who I met with several times throughout the summer. She helped me improve my research and writing skills in general, and also worked with me to tailor assignments to specific partners' expectations. Our summer class became extremely close, largely because of the amazing social events we got to participate in outside of work, including a wine tasting trip to Sonoma and a gourmet cooking school class. In the end, what really impressed me about Hanson Bridgett was that all the attorneys were genuinely happy to be at the firm. It was obvious that the positive, collegial environment we experienced in the summer had existed long before we arrived and would continue when we were gone.
In my spare time, I like watching and attending Oakland Raiders and Oakland A's games. I also enjoy cooking, reading, dancing, and spoken word poetry.
Colleen M. Phillips
University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law (J.D. Candidate, 2008); University of California, Berkeley (B.A., History and Dramatic Art/Dance,1995)
I learned about Hanson Bridgett when one of my law school professors suggested the firm was a good fit for my personality. She was right. The attorneys from Hanson Bridgett have the highest degree of professionalism and work ethic mixed with congenial natures and great senses of humor.
The summer program at Hanson Bridgett is both fun and realistic. The Recruiting Committee clearly puts in a lot of time and energy selecting similar personalities for the summer class. The summer coordinators are excellent. They really listened to the practice areas I wanted experience in and made sure I received projects from both partners and associates working in those areas. I intend to pursue a career in litigation and have enjoyed my assignments in public agency and construction law, as well as trade secret/unfair competition litigation.
Christian K. Wrede
University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law (J.D. Candidate, 2009); Stanford University Graduate School of Business (M.B.A. 1999); Stanford University (M.A, History, 1993; B.A., History, 1992)
I can't say enough good things about my experience at Hanson Bridgett this summer. Not only was it a fun and supportive place to work, but I learned more than I could have expected about the practice of law.
The most pleasant surprise for me was that the firm really lived up to its reputation as a different kind of firm with a genuine commitment to integrity, balance and the Bay Area community it serves. Everyone I came in contact with, from the managing partner to the newest associate, reflected these values. The pro bono program was very active. Office doors were always open. And even as summer associates, we were kept informed about the firm's performance and strategic objectives.
In addition to enjoying the work environment, I thoroughly enjoyed the work itself at Hanson Bridgett and feel that my time here was well spent. Over the past twelve weeks, I have done research, written memos and helped attorneys think through challenging problems in at least a half-dozen different areas of law, ranging from public agency to employment. I haven't decided where I will focus when I start practicing full-time, but I know that the skills I developed this summer will serve me well in school and throughout my career.
In March, when I told friends in San Francisco that I was going to work at Hanson Bridgett, I was surprised by how many of them - in law, government and other fields - had positive things to say about the firm. I now see why they hold it in such high regard.
In my spare time, I enjoy exercising, road trips, and studying foreign languages on BART.
Non-Discrimination Policy: Hanson Bridgett LLP seeks to ensure a positive and diverse work culture where each person may work and develop professionally to the best of his or her ability free of unlawful discrimination or prejudice. To this end, the firm is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits unlawful discrimination or prejudice of any kind based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability, or pregnancy.
