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As a mid-sized communications and technology law firm based in Washington, D.C., Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP provides the quality of representation and client base typically associated with a large firm, while maintaining the personal style of a smaller firm. To sustain and enhance these unique qualities, the firm seeks candidates who have balanced excellence in law school with solid professional and personal achievements.
WBK’s Summer Program
The Application Process
New Associates
Lateral Openings
Wilkinson Barker is very "team-oriented," and its summer program is no exception. The summer program generally commences in mid-May, and lasts until mid-August, depending upon the schedules of the respective summer associates. Each summer associate has access to firm associates and the program coordinator (a partner at the firm) to provide guidance and answer questions. Summer associates work directly with both associates and partners, and are given opportunities to work in all of the firm's practice areas, without a formal "rotation."
The coordinator helps to handle and assign initial projects and intervene in cases of competing assignments. As the summer progresses, summer associates are encouraged to seek out assignments in areas of particular interest to them. The firm strives to make its summer experience a reflection of life at the firm as an attorney, and in that regard the types of projects given to summer associates are typical of those assigned to first-year associates.
Although summer associates work hard, the summer program also includes a mix of cultural, social, and athletic activities as a means of allowing summer associates and full-time attorneys to become better acquainted. Spouses and significant others are invited to as many events as practicable.
Recent activities have included a Georgetown Harbor boat cruise, a tour of the Newseum, theater events, a comedy club performance, a golf outing, Nationals baseball, and a Chesapeake Bay crabfeast and barbecue at a partner's home, as well as traditional lunches, and happy hours. Summer associates are given a calendar of activities at the beginning of the summer for planning purposes.
Summer associates are evaluated throughout the summer at the completion of each assignment by the supervising attorney. These evaluation forms are collected by the summer associate coordinator, and are available for review by the candidates at any time. Formal mid-summer reviews are conducted. In addition, exit interviews are conducted at the conclusion of the summer.
Wilkinson Barker generally hires for its summer program between two and four second-year summer associates who have a demonstrated interest in the firm and its practice areas. Full time hiring needs are assessed on a rolling basis, and the firm seeks to draw from its summer associate pool to fill those needs.
The firm does not have a formal third-year clerkship program or first-year summer program. The hiring of law clerks and first-year summer associates is done on a case-by-case basis.
Candidates for the summer program are selected from résumés sent from candidates at schools across the country.
A candidate should send his/her résumé to the email address provided below. If a candidate's interest in the firm's practice areas is not readily apparent from his or her résumé, he or she is strongly encouraged to also include an explanatory cover letter. Each candidate should include a copy of his/her transcript along with the résumé and cover letter.
Candidates should send inquiries to: Recruiting@wbklaw.com.
The interview process generally consists of an initial screening interview, as well as a call-back interview to meet with other associates and partners. Candidates should bring copies of a writing sample and references to the initial screening interview, as well as an updated résumé and/or transcript, to the extent information has become outdated or was not previously provided.
Reasonable travel expenses will be compensated for call-back interviews, which generally last several hours in either a morning or afternoon session. Interviews are generally conducted from late September through mid-November, and the Firm strives to extend offers to summer associate candidates before the end of the calendar year. Following NALP guidelines, offers made to summer associate candidates are kept open for at least 28 days following the date of the offer letter or until December 30, whichever comes first; offers made after December 15 remain open for at least two weeks after the date of the offer letter. Compensation for summer associates is set at competitive levels.
Wilkinson Barker seeks to extend offers for permanent positions as early as possible during the fall, generally before October 15. All new associates are required to become members of the D.C. Bar, either by examination or waiver.
While studying for the bar examination, new associates may elect to work half-days as law clerks during the month of June and to be off the entire month of July, while accruing a full-time salary during both months. Any time taken during August will be without pay or charged against accrued leave. Alternatively, the firm will consider providing a modest bar stipend in lieu of working prior to the bar exam.
The entry-level salary for new attorneys is set each year at competitive levels. In addition, the firm provides certain benefits, including group life insurance, medical and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, travel insurance, participation in the Employee Assistance Plan, vacation, parental leave, a retirement plan, and payment of annual bar membership dues.
At such time as there are lateral openings in the firm, that information will be posted here.