US Summer Associate Program

K&L Gates: The Power of Partnership

K&L Gates created the Power of Partnership Program in 2018 to offer outstanding learning experiences for law students while also increasing engagement with our clients. This program offers selected 1L students the unique opportunity to split their summer between working as a summer associate in a K&L Gates office and as a member of an in-house legal team of a corporate client of the firm.

In 2025, we hosted Power of Partnership 1Ls in several of our offices and partnered with clients across a variety of industries, including financial services, technology, higher education, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

In addition to a paid 1L summer associate position, our Power of Partnership Program participants are eligible to earn an academic bonus of up to US$50,000.

Applications are open on our careers page beginning on 1 November of each year. We begin to review applications on a rolling basis after 1 December, and the application period closes on 31 January.

Gregoire Fellows Program - Washington State

Our Seattle office is also a sponsor of the Gregoire Fellows Program, a program through the University of Washington and Seattle University that recognizes students for their academic and professional achievements, unique perspectives and experiences, and leadership potential to diversify the legal profession in Washington.

Each fellow selected in partnership with the university receives a paid summer associate position.

The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars Program

The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars Program is designed to strengthen the legal pipeline by expanding the number of opportunities for first-year law students. It provides 1L students with valuable professional experiences while introducing them to the value of relationships and building networks with LCLD member organizations. 

We select our LCLD 1L Scholar from the 1Ls we hire for our Summer Associate Program. In addition to a paid 1L summer position, the selected LCLD Scholar is afforded the opportunity to participate in the LCLD 1L Scholars Mentor Program and attend the LCLD 1L Scholars Summit with other 1L Scholars from around the United States. To be considered for the LCLD 1L Scholars Program, please apply to one of our open 1L positions on our website and indicate your interest in the LCLD 1L Scholars Program in your cover letter or personal statement.

The Application

We invite you to apply directly to our 2026 2L Summer Associates positions. We expect to open our 2026 1L applications in late fall 2025 and our 2027 2L summer associate applications in March 2026. If you would like to learn more about law student opportunities at K&L Gates, we invite you to submit your materials to our Law Student Inquiry Form. 

Screening Interview

A screening interview is typically a 20-minute virtual interview with one or two lawyers.

Callback Interview

The callback interview format differs among offices. If you are selected for a callback interview, we will invite you to meet with additional lawyers, in-person or virtually, for approximately two hours. The callback interviews are an opportunity for us to learn more about you and for you to learn more about us. Should you require travel for your in-person callback interview, K&L Gates will cover reasonable travel-related expenses, in accordance with NALP guidelines.

Suited Assessment

K&L Gates has partnered with the predictive candidate screening platform Suited to expand our consideration of candidates beyond traditional hiring metrics. Instead of relying on surface-level information that can be found on a resume or CV, Suited uses assessments to holistically and objectively surface your potential. Our goal is to make the recruiting process as fair and seamless as possible, so that we can find the candidates who will be fulfilled in their roles and complementary to our culture.

Completing the Suited assessment is a required part of our hiring process; however, should you believe that even with appropriate accommodations, you require an alternative screening procedure in order for us to more accurately assess your candidacy, please contact your recruiting team. If you have already completed the Suited assessment for another firm, you will not be required to complete it again and Suited will use your emailed invitation to release your results to us.

Information on what is measured by the assessment, Suited’s data retention policies, and how to request an accommodation may be found on Suited's Resource Guide for Law Students website.

The Hiring Decision

Students are notified about the status of their candidacy as soon as possible following their callback interview. 

When do applications open? How do I apply?

2L summer associate applications typically open early spring of a candidate’s 1L year. 1L summer associate applications typically open late fall of a candidate’s 1L year. Applications will be posted on our careers page. If you do not see any job postings that align with your interests or location, you are welcome to submit your materials for future opportunities to our Law Student Inquiry Form. 

Should I apply via OCI?

We encourage you to submit an application directly on our careers page. If you do not see any job postings that align with your interests or location, you are welcome to submit your materials for future opportunities to our Law Student Inquiry Form. K&L Gates participates in just a few OCI programs, so we advise that candidates apply directly on careers page.

How many summer associates do you hire?

On average, we hire 45 summer associates across 17 offices. 

Do I need to know what practice area(s) I am interested in?

In order to support our goal of extending a first-year offers to all of our successful summer associates, summer associate positions are strategically determined with entry-level needs in mind. Each job posting will state the practice areas expecting to hire a first-year associate the following fall. Summer associates will have a projected area placement, however, on rare occasions this may be subject to change. You will have an opportunity to note the practice area(s) you are interested in on your application and in your cover letter. Please direct any further inquiries about practice group placement to the Legal Recruiting team.

What does K&L Gates look for in a summer associate applicant?

K&L Gates values candidates who have demonstrated academic excellence, strong written and verbal communication skills, and compatible values. We look for candidates who are collaborative, proactive, accountable, analytical, and share the firm’s commitment to client service, ethical standards, public service, and inclusivity.

What are the summer program dates?

The summer program is typically ten weeks, from late May to late July.

What does the summer program entail?

The summer program offers a comprehensive experience that blends professional development with authentic exposure to firm life. Summer associates benefit from meaningful mentorship connections, robust trainings, and hands-on opportunities to contribute to client matters. Additionally, we arrange for a variety of engaging social events for our summer associates to experience their city and bond with colleagues. 

What kind of work will I be doing? How will I receive work?

Summer associates will work on real assignments from lawyers. The majority of your work will come from your projected practice area, but you will have the opportunity to be exposed to different practices as well as pro bono work. Our work assignment process varies by office. Some offices take a free-market approach, and some have assignment coordinators. Partners and more experienced associates assign work to each summer associate.

How do I send my updated materials after I applied?

After you submit an application, you will be sent a link to upload any new materials. We encourage you to send us your updated transcript with spring grades as soon as possible. If you have difficulty finding this link, please contact klgates.recruitment@klgates.com. 

Why should I join K&L Gates?

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