For the past seven years, Morgan Lewis has brought firm leaders and summer associates from throughout the United States to a single location for a multiday kickoff to the Summer Associate Program. Kickoffs in prior years were held in San Francisco, Chicago, and Absecon, New Jersey. The 2007 kickoff was held in Santa Monica with a beach theme, where flip flops were given out and summer associates enjoyed a night on the beach with a campfire and s'mores. The 2008 kickoff was held in Washington, D.C. and in 2009 we gathered in Baltimore, Maryland.

As in years past, part of the kickoff program is devoted to introducing summer associates to Morgan Lewis and its practices. In 2008, however, summer associates joined with firm leaders and other Morgan Lewis lawyers in a community service project at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown, near our D.C. office. We continued our focus on community service in 2009 and again partnered with one of our Pro Bono clients, Back on My Feet. Morgan Lewis lawyers and summer associates participated in community service projects at homeless shelters by painting, serving lunch, folding laundry, landscaping, and many other projects.

Morgan Lewis's Community Service Summer Associate Kickoff supplemented our unique Public Interest and Community Service split-summer program. Picture yourself at Morgan Lewis, beginning your summer experience by serving the needs of others.

Members of the 2009 Summer Associate Program work outside painting at the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training.

Summer associates work inside organizing canned goods at the Helping Up Mission.

Summer associates listen as a panel of junior associates discuss how to have a successful summer.

John Ring, the Washington, D.C. office hiring partner, introduces David Gerson, deputy practice group leader for the Business & Finance Practice, and his presentation on the business of a law firm.

Summer associates, students, and attorneys paint the fences outside of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, one of the many community service projects completed throughout the day.

Students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts thank the volunteers from Morgan Lewis by performing a few of their favorite routines.

Summer associates sit in on the daytime programming at the kickoff.

Summer associates and attorneys enjoy an evening dinner on the beach.