Interested in applying to our summer program?

Apply at our application portal HERE!

“What sets your firm apart is that your baby lawyers are expected very early on to be in court. Being in court does not get taught in books, requires the ability to think on your feet, and necessitates an ability to convey confidence in the face of bad facts/bad law. Any lawyer that gets through your vetting process is clearly smart. ”
– Former Harris County State District Judge on new AZA lawyers

AZA summer associates can expect to get a substantial taste of what it is like to work with our team of trial lawyers. We strive to make this summer clerkship as close to a working lawyer experience as possible. Just as our new lawyers can expect a meaningful role in at least one bona fide trial in their first year with us, our summer associates can expect to witness at least one courtroom session or deposition. Summer associates will work on real motions and briefs. And they will participate in mock arguments before former judges who will decide a winner. We want our summer associates to get real exposure to our legal work to see if our kind of trial-ready practice is one where you will excel. AZA seeks summer associates who know they want to be real trial lawyers, exhibit initiative and yearn for a jury trial within their first 12 months in practice.

AZA is ranked by the go-to career guide Vault for 2025 among the nation’s top 12 midsize law firms to work for and among the top 6 midsize firms in Texas, based on surveys of law firm associates. The trial firm ranked top five in quality of work and selectivity, and top 10 in compensation, satisfaction, and diversity. Vault noted that AZA associates are thrilled to receive “top NY market salaries” and that they describe the work as “top notch, with a satisfying variety of cases and significant early experience and responsibility.”    

“The firm’s culture is a big selling point for associates, who describe it as very social and filled with different personality types. In fact, the firm emphasizes the importance of personal style in effective advocacy, and partners are supportive of associates in helping them to develop their styles along with their skills,” Vault noted.  

Here are some of the associates’ comments on specific characteristics of the firm:

• On quality of work – “There is nowhere to get more ownership or front-line experience than this firm.”
• On firm culture – “There are virtually no firm politics at AZA. The culture is all about finding the most practical, cost-efficient way to deliver a win for the client. There are virtually never fights over ‘turf’ or who gets credit for a big win.”
• On satisfaction – “Plenty of responsibility at all levels for high-stakes litigation.”
• On associate/partner relations – “The mentality is that if you work the case up and know the case, you’ve earned the opportunity to do the fun things that made you be a lawyer.”

Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing LLC
1221 McKinney, Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77010
Phone (713) 655-1101

AZA Recruiting Partner:
Monica Uddin –

Summer Associate Inquiries should be directed to:
Kingsley Smith –