Jones Foster Welcomes Law Students to 2026 Summer Associate Program

Jones Foster, a commercial and private client law firm with offices in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Jupiter, is pleased to welcome J.D. candidates Michael E. Sauer and Parker G. Schlichte as the firm’s 2026 Summer Associates.

Based in the firm’s West Palm Beach office, the selective 11-week program provides highly accomplished law students with a meaningful, hands-on experience in a collaborative law firm environment. Through mentorship, substantive legal assignments, and exposure to a broad range of practice areas, the program is designed to support the professional growth and future career development of aspiring attorneys.

Throughout the summer, Michael and Parker will work closely with shareholders and associates across multiple practice groups, including Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Tax, Land Use & Governmental, Private Wealth, Wills, Trusts & Estates, Real Estate, and Trust & Estate Litigation. They'll gain practical experience by contributing to active client matters, drafting assignments, conducting legal research and case analysis, and participating in day-to-day firm operations.

Each Summer Associate is paired with an attorney mentor who will provide guidance, support, and insight into the responsibilities of practicing law. The program also emphasizes skills critical to long-term success in the legal profession, such as client service, marketing, business development, and relationship-building.

To help introduce this year’s Summer Associates, we sat down with Michael and Parker to learn more about their goals for the summer and what they are looking forward to during their time at Jones Foster.

Why did you choose Jones Foster for your Summer Associate experience?

I chose Jones Foster because of the location and the people. Growing up in South Florida, I knew I wanted to stay in the area, and Jones Foster provided an amazing opportunity to jumpstart my legal career close to home. Additionally, the attorneys throughout the interview process and my first few days this summer have been extremely welcoming and approachable. This cohesive culture originally drew me to Jones Foster and has allowed for a seamless transition over this first week of the summer.

Is there a specific type of guidance or advice you're hoping to receive from the experienced attorneys?

From the attorneys, I look forward to learning how the doctrinal aspects of the law covered in our coursework are practically applied daily to real cases. I'm excited to observe how Jones Foster's experienced attorneys interact with clients in a professional and timely manner, and I look forward to incorporating these tools and strategies as I progress through the summer and later on in my legal career.

What have you heard or observed about the JF Summer Associate Program that you're most eager to experience for yourself?

From previous JF Summer Associates, I've heard about the hands-on exposure to various practice areas that occurs during the Summer Associate Program. As someone who is somewhat undecided as to what types of law I want to ultimately pursue, I look forward to diving into real matters and working with various practice area teams to find what interests me and narrow down what I want to continue to pursue in the future.