Summer Associate Law Clerk

Seward Henderson PLLC | Royal Oak, Michigan | Summer 2027

Seward Henderson PLLC is seeking law students for our Summer Associate / Law Clerk Program in our Royal Oak office.

We are a civil defense litigation firm with an active state and federal practice throughout Michigan. Our attorneys handle complex matters involving civil rights, municipalities and public entities, law enforcement and EMS liability, premises liability, and other significant civil litigation.

Our summer associates do not spend the summer watching from the sidelines. They become part of the litigation team.

What You Will Do

Summer associates work directly with our attorneys on active cases and receive meaningful exposure to the practice of litigation. Depending on the matters pending during the summer, assignments may include:

• Legal research and writing
• Drafting motions, briefs, and other court filings
• Reviewing and analyzing discovery and case records
• Assisting with deposition and hearing preparation
• Preparing case evaluations and litigation strategy materials
• Attending depositions, court hearings, client meetings, and other proceedings
• Working with attorneys to analyze factual and legal issues in active cases
• Assisting with trial and appellate preparation when opportunities arise

We make a deliberate effort to give our law clerks context for their assignments. You should understand not only what you are being asked to do, but why it matters to the case and how your work fits into the larger litigation strategy.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for law students who are smart, hardworking, curious, and genuinely interested in becoming better lawyers.

Strong candidates will:

• Have excellent research, writing, and analytical skills
• Take ownership of assignments and meet deadlines
• Pay close attention to detail
• Be comfortable receiving direct feedback and using it to improve
• Ask thoughtful questions, but also make an effort to find answers independently
• Demonstrate good judgment and professionalism
• Be willing to take on unfamiliar assignments and figure things out
• Have a genuine interest in litigation

Prior litigation experience is not required. We are more interested in your ability to learn, your work ethic, and the quality of your thinking.

What You Can Expect From Us

We take the development of young lawyers seriously.

You will work alongside attorneys at different levels of experience, receive substantive feedback on your work, and have opportunities to see how litigation actually develops—from the first strategic decisions in a case through discovery, dispositive motions, trial, and appeal.

We also believe that much of becoming a lawyer happens by being around lawyers. Our summer program is fully in person. You will have opportunities to sit in on conversations, attend proceedings, observe how attorneys interact with clients and opposing counsel, and learn the parts of practicing law that cannot be taught in a classroom.

Our expectations are high, but the goal is development. We want our summer associates to leave the program substantially better at researching, writing, analyzing cases, and understanding the practice of law than when they arrived.

About Seward Henderson

Seward Henderson is a boutique civil defense litigation firm based in Royal Oak, Michigan. We represent governmental entities, businesses, insurers, and professionals in complex civil litigation in Michigan state and federal courts.

Our culture emphasizes independence, perseverance, preparation, and personal responsibility. We expect people to take their work seriously, think for themselves, and continue improving.

For students who are a strong fit with our firm, the summer program may also provide an opportunity to continue with the firm during the school year and be considered for a post-graduation attorney position.

Position: Summer Associate / Law Clerk

Location: Royal Oak, Michigan

Schedule: Full-time, in office

Term: Summer 2027

Compensation: Paid; compensation is salaried, competitive, and varies by year and rank.

How To Apply

Please submit:

• Resume
• Law school transcript
• Writing sample
• A short cover letter telling us about something difficult you chose to do even though no one was making you do it

We encourage students who want substantive experience and are prepared to work hard to be the best to apply.