Careers
US Summer Associate Program
Make the transition from student to lawyer. Our US summer associate program is the first step to becoming a first-year associate.
K&L Gates is an equal opportunity employer that does not exclude anyone from consideration for this program based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Preferences or quotas are strictly prohibited.
We look for smart, imaginative, and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas to discover the opportunities that K&L Gates has to offer.
Our US summer associate program provides you with the opportunity to get real-life experience on a variety of projects. You may have the chance to accompany our lawyers to court appearances, arbitrations, depositions, trials, client meetings, and other key events. As a summer associate, you will receive regular formal and informal feedback on your ongoing performance and developmental progress. You will also have the opportunity to interact with the firm’s partners and associates during informal social activities.
We are committed to providing every summer associate with the tools to succeed. We will challenge you to explore and define your practice interests, to make significant contributions while working on real-life complex and sophisticated legal matters, and to make a difference in the community—all while learning from exceptional lawyers.
Our 1L summer associate programs are below. Our 2026 1L summer associate applications are not yet available. 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. If you have any questions, please contact LegalRecruiting@klgates.com.
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