2027 2L Summer Associate - IP Litigation - Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Southern California, Washington, DC

About McDermott Will & Schulte

Students looking for a firm that encourages them to be their authentic selves while becoming indispensable to clients should look no further than McDermott. One of the fastest-growing firms in the AmLaw 25, we give our summer associates the opportunity to do meaningful work from the start. Each summer is paired with a dedicated mentor (or mentors) who provide day-to-day guidance and practical advice about transitioning from law school to life in a law firm. In addition to this informal coaching, summers receive formal feedback at both the program midpoint and conclusion.

Our program is designed to support professional growth as well as personal well-being. Summer associates participate in a robust series of training opportunities, including writing workshops, hands-on skills sessions, and substantive practice group programming to help them build confidence and sharpen their legal skills. Complementing this, our well-being program offers resources and events focused on balance, resilience, and overall wellness, ensuring our summers feel supported both inside and outside of work.

At McDermott, inclusion, wellness, and community involvement are valued just as highly as client service, and our summer associates experience the Firm’s commitment to those values firsthand. For more information regarding our initiatives, please view our recruiting brochure: Join Us at McDermott – McDermott Will & Schulte

2027 2L Summer Program Opportunities

McDermott is seeking 2L summer associates to join our Intellectual Property Litigation group for our 10-week 2027 Summer Associate Program in our Boston, Chicago, Southern California (Los Angeles/San Diego)*, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC offices. Our program offers summer associates a realistic introduction to the practice of law and day-to-day life as a McDermott associate. The summer associate program provides meaningful responsibility and feedback that is consistent with a junior associate experience. 2027 Summer Associates will receive weekly compensation of $4,326, less applicable taxes and withholdings.

Preferred technical backgrounds: Aerospace/aeronautical Engineering, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Genetics, Immunology, Industrial Engineering, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Neurobiology, Neuroscience, Nuclear Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Physics

Please note: IP Litigation summer associates interested in the San Diego location would spend the majority of the summer program in one of our other offices, with opportunities to spend time in the San Diego office to meet and integrate with the team. Subject to successful completion of the summer program, any offer to return to the Firm as a first-year associate would include the option to join the San Diego office. Candidates interested in joining the San Diego office as a first-year associate should note this preference in their cover letter.

Applicants are asked to submit the following materials:

A resume
A cover letter (indicating office(s) of interest)
A writing sample
An undergraduate transcript and most up to date law school transcript

The Firm is committed to supporting our incoming 2L Summer Associates and offers two financial award options. An eligible student may only receive one (1) form of stipend or fellowship compensation from the Firm, as outlined below, and must indicate their selection (if applicable and subject to you meeting the qualifying circumstances):

2026 1L Summer Stipend

Students who accept an offer to join the McDermott Will & Schulte 2027 Summer Program for the full 10-weeks and spend the 2026 summer at a qualified full-time legal position are eligible to receive a $50,000 stipend, less applicable taxes and withholdings.

To be eligible for the Firm’s 1L Summer Stipend, you must work during your 1L summer in a qualifying legal position in one of the following settings: a nonprofit public interest organization, judicial chambers, a federal/state/local government office or agency, an in-house legal department, or an academic setting (e.g., work for a law school, university, or academic institute/center).

2L Inclusion Fellowship

As part of McDermott’s longstanding commitment to promoting a more equitable & inclusive law firm, we are proud to offer our 2L Inclusion Fellowship, open to all second-year law students who meet our eligibility criteria. 2027 Inclusion Fellows will receive a $25,000 stipend, less applicable taxes and withholdings. Half of the stipend will be paid out upon completion of the 2027 Summer Program, and the remaining half will be paid out upon joining McDermott as a full-time associate. Fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis. To be considered, candidates must:

Have an anticipated JD graduation date in Spring 2028 at the time of application from an ABA-accredited law school.
Submit a personal statement of 1,000 words or less that narrates why the applicant wants to be a lawyer and what inclusion at a law firm means to them. This should be submitted as part of the general summer associate application process.
Demonstrate a commitment to promoting inclusion within the firm as a product of life experiences or challenges/obstacles in advancing professional objectives.
Receive and accept a 2027 Summer Program offer.
Participate in the first 8 weeks or full 10 weeks of the 2027 Summer Program.
Not be the recipient of a similar inclusion or diversity award from another firm during the same period.

2L Inclusion Fellowship – Application Process

We will accept applications on a rolling basis beginning December 15, 2025. Students must apply through our web application portal at careers.mwe.com with all required materials in order to be considered. Applicants will receive an email confirmation that includes a self-update link which may be used to provide an updated transcript once available or make any necessary adjustments.

Questions? Please visit our Summer Program page to view contact information for the law student recruiting team member in the office(s) in which you are interested.

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2027 2L Summer Associate – IP Litigation – Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Southern California, Washington, DC

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