1L – 2025 Inclusion Fellowship – Washington, D.C.

Build your big career with the Firm that does Big Law better. McDermott Will & Emery is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,400 lawyers and 1,200 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by The American Lawyer, Working Mother Magazine, Vault and the Human Rights Campaign.

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office, with our attorneys receiving personalized guidance, structured mentorship and confidential career coaching.

With us, you’ll find:

• A Firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
• Enthusiasm for diverse perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, with an emphasis on work/life balance. We’re proud to be the first firm to offer billable hours for wellness.
• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence. Our individual merit-based system enabled 65% of our associates to earn above the Cravath scale in 2023.

Inclusion Fellowship

As part of McDermott’s longstanding commitment to promoting a more equitable & inclusive law firm, we are proud to offer our 1L Inclusion Fellowship Program in our Washington, D.C. office.

• The 1L Fellow will be included in all aspects of the McDermott Summer Associate Program, including extensive training, networking, integration and social opportunities.
• Fellows will be paired with a mentor to provide guidance during the summer and throughout the school year.
• Our 1L Inclusion Fellows will receive a $15,000 scholarship toward their law school education at the completion of the 2025 Summer Program.
• Fellows who successfully complete the 1L fellowship program are also eligible to earn an offer to return as a 2026 Summer Associate.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from any law student who is enrolled at ABA-accredited law schools with:

• A commitment to promoting justice, diversity, equity and inclusion within the firm as a product of life experiences or challenges/ obstacles in advancing professional objectives
• A strong record of academic and personal achievement
• A genuine interest in pursuing a career at McDermott upon graduation
• The intent to live and practice in the city or region in which the office is located
• An anticipated JD graduation date of Spring 2027 at the time of application

Application Process

We will accept applications on a rolling basis beginning November 1, 2024. Students must apply through our web application portal at www.MWE.com/Careers in order to be considered.

Please submit your resume, writing sample, cover letter (indicating practice area(s) of interest), undergraduate transcript and law school transcript (if it is available to you at the time), and a personal statement of 1,000 words or less that narrates why you want to be a lawyer and what justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JDEI) at a law firm means to you.

As part of our ongoing commitment to be #AlwaysBetter for our people, clients and communities, we have created a culture of belonging that champions your individuality as both a person and a professional. From our competitive compensation, top benefits and award-winning professional development programs to industry-leading wellness initiatives, we support you through every stage of your life and career. With McDermott, you can live a life you love both in and outside of the office.

Expected weekly salary for summer associates is $4,326