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Where Tradition Meets the Future®

Overview

As a summer associate at Henderson Franklin, you will be provided with an excellent opportunity to supplement your law school experience, meet the attorneys and staff of Henderson Franklin, and enjoy Southwest Florida. 

We try to involve our summer associates as much as possible in the day-to-day life of our practicing lawyers. Our firm’s size allows you the opportunity to be exposed to a broad range of practice areas. As a summer associate, you may attend hearings, trials, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, meetings with clients, and other activities. We ask summer associates to perform research, assist in the drafting of pleadings, discovery, and other documents, and analyze various legal issues that arise in the course of the matters we handle.

Training

Our goal is to provide you with feedback on your work product, so that you can improve your skills as you prepare to become an attorney. We also hope to instill in you the most basic tenet of excellence in lawyering: professionalism. Above all, we take a genuine interest in each summer associate who participates in our program. In order to provide our summer associates with as many resources as possible, we pair each summer associate with an attorney mentor. Your mentor will help you begin making the transition from law student to lawyer.

Social Activities

Summer associates will enjoy many social activities, both formal and informal. Among other activities, you will have opportunities to attend bar association meetings, lunches and mixers. One of the highlights of the program is a day spent enjoying Fort Myers by boat. This has become a beloved tradition and typically includes a day spent exploring the picturesque local waterways, such as the Caloosahatchee River or Pine Island Sound. This unique outing allows summer associates to unwind, build camaraderie with their peers, and create lasting bonds.

Southwest Florida

You will find that Southwest Florida offers tremendous business and personal opportunities. Southwest Florida is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. A few years ago, Gulfshore Business, a local magazine, declared that Southwest Florida’s 18- to 24-year-old age group was one of the fastest growing in the nation. Fort Myers is home to Florida Gulf Coast University, a four-year state university, established in 1997. More recently, Ave Maria University, a four-year private institution, has been established in Collier County. The addition of these outstanding educational resources to the area’s other fine four-year institutions, Edison College and Hodges University (previously International College), has made Southwest Florida even more attractive to business.

The combination of these advantages helps contribute to a climate that is ideal for a young professional.

Attractions 

A variety of outdoor sports and cultural activities is available in Southwest Florida. For the outdoor enthusiast, there are opportunities for kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, cycling, running, and other pursuits. Southwest Florida’s beaches are well known for their beauty. For the cultural enthusiast, Southwest Florida is home to numerous playhouses, two fine arts centers, museums, and many art galleries. The nightlife in Southwest Florida offers plenty of diversions with the Fort Myers River District being home to many nightclubs and restaurants. Local and national musical acts perform in Southwest Florida regularly.

For those who are interested in spectator sports, Southwest Florida offers many possibilities. Two major league teams, the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins, call Fort Myers home during spring training. Fort Myers also boasts a minor league team, the Fort Myers Miracle. You can also watch collegiate sports, professional ice hockey, and indoor football in Southwest Florida.

Traditions 

Since 1924, Henderson Franklin has been an integral part of Southwest Florida. Our attorneys have included a president of The Florida State Bar Association (the predecessor to today’s Florida Bar), members of The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors, legislators, presidents of the Lee County Bar Association, and community leaders. If you are interested in becoming a part of this tradition, please consider applying for one of our Summer Associate Program positions.

Contact Us

Please send your cover letter, resume, and any supporting materials to the attention of:

Shannon Puopolo, Esq.
Hiring Committee Chair
Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.
Post Office Box 280
Fort Myers, FL 33902

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