Join Linklaters as a summer associate, and you’ll gain broad exposure to our international platform and global network. Our U.S. Summer Associate Program will give you the opportunity to hone your legal skills and reach your professional goals. Your summer will be the start of your journey with the firm and provide you with genuine insight into the life of a Linklaters associate. You’ll be given true responsibility, becoming involved in significant client matters. And if you have a strong interest in starting your career abroad, you could also enjoy the opportunity to gain experience overseas.

Throughout the program, we’ll ensure you have access to partners and exposure to clients across multiple practice groups and offices. You’ll receive both formal training and informal mentoring from experienced partners and associates, and we’ll encourage you to attend associate training, as well as practice group meetings and client events. In addition, you’ll participate in pro bono work and corporate responsibility initiatives.

In 2023, our summer associates joined us from the following law schools:

• American

• Brooklyn

• Columbia

• Cornell

• Duke

• Emory

• George Washington

• Georgetown

• Harvard

• Howard 

• NYU 

• St. John's

• University of Michigan 

• University of Virginia

During the program, summer associates typically gain experience in a variety of practice areas. Those who are interested in potentially beginning their career abroad may also have the opportunity to spend part of the summer in one of our offices overseas. You could find yourself in New York, Washington, D.C., London or Frankfurt. 

Completing substantive work assignments during the summer will provide you with a realistic work experience similar to that of a junior associate. Generally, assignments will be given to you directly by partners and associates. In New York, Washington and London, the assignment process is also facilitated by workflow coordinators. If there is a particular type of deal or practice area you’re interested in, we’ll do our best to expose you to it.

You’ll also be strongly encouraged to take on pro bono assignments and participate in volunteer projects. Our dedicated pro bono manager works with each of our summer associates to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to at least one pro bono matter, which reflects how we work in the wider business.

Of course, feedback is crucial for the professional development of our summer associates so we’ll provide you with two formal review opportunities. The first will happen midway through the summer, at the end of your first seat, where you’ll review your work performance with your partner mentor. A second and final review will take place at the conclusion of the program. In addition to these formal sessions, you’ll benefit from informal catch-up meetings with your mentors throughout the summer.

Discover more about Linklaters – who we are and what we do:

• Chambers Associate profile
• Vault profile & Practice Perspectives
• NALP Directory profile