So you secured a summer associate position and are wondering what to expect when you get there. More than that, you want to know how to make the most of your summer program. I endeavor to answer that question by focusing on two domains: knowledge of self, and knowledge of setting. I came to these based on my range of internship experiences from being in one of Holland & Knight's largest summer classes ever, to being the only intern in the city of Miami Beach City Attorney's Office and an academic intern in the chambers of Judge Darrin P. Gayles.

Whether you're interning for your local public defender's office, a judge, or a law firm, it remains true that your work product and adherence to deadlines matter. There's simply no substitute for the substance of your legal writings. However, the open secret of all of these summer programs is that your work is not mission critical. No one is depending on you to identify the proverbial smoking gun in the mountain of discovery or to find the one case that will make the argument. So it turns out that oftentimes where you can make the most impact as a summer intern is socially. As true as it is that your work matters, it's equally true that relationships matter. Because the substance of your work as a summer will vary so widely, you'll find most of my advice focuses on relationships and the intangible elements of success as a summer associate.