Last month, Tonkon Torp welcomed four 2020 summer associates to its first virtual summer associate program. Yalda Bahramian, Ashley Korkeakoski-Sears, Alexandria “Alex” Wagner-Jakubiak, and Gracey Nagle will complete an eight-week program with the firm that pairs them with a mentor attorney, provides training, and introduces them to client work across multiple practice groups.
The firm offers its nationally competitive 10-week paid summer associate program for first-year (1L) and second-year (2L) law students and a Diversity Fellowship for first-year law students. The Fellowship includes the 10-week associate position, as well as a $10,000 grant to help defray the law student’s second year tuition and expenses.
Yalda Bahramian, a 1L at UC Irvine, is one of Tonkon’s 2020 Diversity Fellows. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2018, she worked as a legal assistant at NSKB, LLC in Portland. Yalda is fluent in Farsi and volunteered at the Iranian Women Association of Oregon for four years where she co-taught Farsi language courses. Yalda is being mentored by Sadie Concepción.
Ashley Korkeakoski-Sears, a 1L at Boston University, is also a 2020 Diversity Fellow. After completing her undergrad degree at New York University in 2017, she worked with City Year Americorps which partners with elementary schools in tutoring and mentoring PreK-8th grade students. Ashley, who works with the Black Law Student Association at her school to increase diversity and inclusion, is being mentored by Stephanie Grant.
Alex Wagner-Jakubiak, a 2L from Willamette School of Law, was Tonkon’s 2019 Diversity Fellow and was invited back for another summer. Alex graduated from Full Sail University in 2016 with a B.S. in Music Business, while working at both Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando. Alex just completed her second year at Willamette and is mentored by Betsy Judd.
Gracey Nagle, a 2L from Lewis & Clark Law School, is a 2001 graduate of Yale and completed additional Post-Baccalaureate Studies at Portland State University in 2004. 
Gracey, who has produced several documentary films, was the judicial extern for The Honorable Lynn R. Nakamoto in 2019, and Research Assistant to former Lewis & Clark Law School Dean Robert Klonoff for the past year. Alex Tinker is Gracey’s summer mentor.
As with all businesses, COVID-19 has drastically changed Tonkon Torp’s workplace. Since a primary goal of the summer program is to include the associates in a wide variety of the firm’s internal functions, the Tonkon Torp Summer Associate Committee has created virtual training sessions and social opportunities such as a lighthearted Between Two Ferns-inspired interview series that pairs former summer associates (now Tonkon attorneys) with partners from across the firm. The associates are also included in zoom-based practice group meetings and client interactions.
While the 2020 summer associate program may look different from past years, it will certainly go down in the firm archives as one of its most memorable.
