We have concluded 1L hiring for 2023. Please follow your law school’s guidelines pertaining to the 2024 1L fellowship application timing.

1L Diversity Fellowship

Our firm is committed to the growth and development of legal communities that accurately reflect the rich diversity of our communities. Established in 1991, the fellowship provides 1L students who are members of groups historically underrepresented in the legal industry with a paid summer associate position and a $15,000 stipend. Fellows who return for their 2L summer are eligible for an additional $15,000 stipend at the conclusion of the summer program, as well as a $10,000 award should they accept an offer to join the firm as an associate following graduation. There may be an opportunity for our 1L Diversity Fellows to work on-site with the legal department at our clients' offices. Generally, these are two-week opportunities during the summer.

The diversity fellowships are not tied to a specific practice group and may receive assignments from a variety of practices. These fellowships are available in the following Perkins Coie offices: Austin, Boise, Chicago, Dallas, Madison, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

CRITERIA AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Criteria

  • Good standing as a first-year law student at an ABA-accredited law school.
  • Demonstrated record of academic achievement and excellent writing and interpersonal skills, as well as experience that will contribute to a successful career in the legal field.
  • A history of meaningful contributions to the diversity efforts of the student’s law school and a strong desire to continue supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts upon entering the legal profession.
  • Membership in a group historically underrepresented in the legal profession, including students of color, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students with disabilities.

Submission Guidelines

  • Current resume.
  • Cover letter.
  • Undergraduate and, if available, law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable).
  • A legal writing sample (10-page maximum).
  • A personal statement (one-page, single-spaced). The personal statement should be a narrative about the student’s unique personal history and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community and legal profession.

1L Patent Litigation & Patent Prosecution Fellowships

Perkins Coie's 1L patent fellowships provide law students with a $15,000 academic scholarship and a paid position as a 2023 summer associate with the firm. Patent fellowship recipients will be chosen based on their skills and experience as well as their demonstrated interest in practicing law in the specified field.

Perkins Coie’s Intellectual Property practice combines the focus and flexibility of a boutique firm with the services of one of the world’s leading technology law firms. We have more than 250 attorneys and agents who provide innovative, comprehensive counsel at every stage of IP protection and development, including patent litigation and appeals, post-grant proceedings, patent prosecution, portfolio counseling, and technology licensing, as well as copyright, trademark, trade secret, and unfair competition counseling and litigation. Candidates for our Patent Prosecution or Patent Litigation Fellowships must have the technical or scientific background necessary for the practice group’s work. Applicants with prior professional technical or scientific experience are preferred. Applicants for Patent Prosecution positions must be eligible to sit for the patent bar. The Patent Litigation Fellowship is available in our Austin, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., offices. The Patent Prosecution Fellowship is available in our Palo Alto and Seattle offices. A mixed Patent Litigation/Patent Prosecution Fellowship is available in our Seattle office only.

CRITERIA AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Criteria

  • Candidates must be first-year law students in good standing pursuing the degree of Juris Doctor at an ABA-accredited law school.
  • Candidates must have a strong academic record as well as experience that demonstrates great promise for a successful career in the legal profession.
  • Applicants for patent prosecution positions must be eligible to sit for the patent bar.

Submission Guidelines

  • Current resume.
  • Cover letter.
  • Three references (name, email, and phone).
  • Undergraduate and, if available, law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable).
  • A legal writing sample (10-page maximum).

1L Two Steps Ahead Scholars Program (Palo Alto only)

We have partnered with our client, Adobe, to create the Two Steps Ahead Scholars Program. This program provides a diverse first-year law student with the unique opportunity to spend part of the summer in Perkins Coie’s Palo Alto office, and part of the summer in-house at Adobe’s Silicon Valley headquarters. In addition to a paid summer position, program participants will receive a $15,000 academic scholarship.

CRITERIA AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Criteria

  • Good standing as a first-year law student at an ABA-accredited law school.
  • Demonstrated record of academic achievement and excellent writing and interpersonal skills, as well as experience that will contribute to a successful career in the legal field.
  • A history of meaningful contributions to the diversity efforts of the student’s law school and a strong desire to continue supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts upon entering the legal profession.
  • Membership in a group historically underrepresented in the legal profession, including students of color, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students with disabilities.

Submission Guidelines

  • Current resume.
  • Cover letter.
  • Undergraduate and, if available, law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable).
  • A legal writing sample (10-page maximum).
  • A personal statement (one-page, single-spaced). The personal statement should be a narrative about the student’s unique personal history and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community and legal profession.
 

Apply Here >

1L Summer Fellowships: Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. Which office should I apply to?
    Perkins Coie's 1L Fellowship program is designed to recruit top-notch law students who may eventually begin full-time employment with the firm. To that end, you should only apply to the office in the city where you genuinely would like to live and start your practice as an entry-level attorney. Candidates may apply to one office only for the Diversity Fellowship but may apply for multiple fellowships in that office (for example, you may apply for both the Diversity Fellowship and the Patent Fellowship in one office if you qualify for both). Candidates may apply to more than one office for the Patent Fellowship if they qualify for each.
  2. What does the firm consider "diverse"? Am I "diverse"?
    Our definition of diversity is broad and encompasses students of color, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students with disabilities. If you feel that you are diverse in one or more of these ways, please apply and share your unique story with us.
  3. How important are law school grades?
    As with any competitive process, undergraduate, graduate (if applicable), and law school grades are important evaluative factors. However, other factors, including a quality personal statement, relevant previous professional experience and ties to the area to which you are applying, are also weighed.
  4. My law school grades won't be released by the application deadline. Can I still apply? What should I do?
    This is a common occurrence. You can and should still apply. Please submit all other application materials by the application deadline and then follow up by providing your law school grades as soon as they become available.
  5. What kind of writing sample should I provide?
    The ideal writing sample demonstrates legal analysis and your writing ability. If you do not have a legal writing sample, please submit a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to summarize and analyze information and draw appropriate conclusions based on that analysis.
  6. How important is the personal statement required for the 1L Diversity Fellowship? What role does my personal statement play in being selected?
    A quality personal statement is essential to your application. An effective statement provides us with a sense of who you are, both as a candidate and as an individual. Your personal statement should be a narrative about your unique personal history and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community and legal profession.
  7. When can I expect to be informed of the status of my candidacy?
    You should expect to hear from the office(s) to which you applied regarding the status of your candidacy by late January.

What Our Summer Associates Say

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“My summer at Perkins Coie was nothing short of an adventure. The level of access I had to associates, partners, and a challenging, yet exciting variety of assignments blew my mind. Everyone was incredibly kind, friendly, and approachable.”

Yara Slaton, Former 1L Summer Associate

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"Perkins Coie created a warm atmosphere for summer associates learning the ways of the law. I learned a great deal during my summer, and, most importantly, I never experienced any negative judgment for asking questions."

Junior Dufort, Former 1L Summer Associate