U.S. Law Student Summer Program
Dickinson Wright's U.S. Law Student Summer Program is a comprehensive 10-week initiative designed primarily for second-year law students. The program offers participants an immersive experience in a full-service law firm environment, providing exposure to a wide array of practice areas and fostering professional development. As a member of the AmLaw 200, Dickinson Wright operates across more than 20 offices in North America, serving a diverse clientele that includes Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, governmental entities, and individuals.
Throughout the program, Summer Associates engage in substantive legal work, including client meetings, depositions, trials, and arbitrations. Assignments span various departments such as commercial, appellate, and employment litigation; corporate and M&A; finance; real estate; and bankruptcy. For those interested in intellectual property, the firm offers specialized positions focusing on patent prosecution, IP litigation, trademarks, and copyright matters. Each Summer Associate is paired with both a Junior and Senior Mentor to provide guidance and support throughout the program.
Ideal candidates should possess strong legal writing and analytical skills, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred. The firm seeks individuals who demonstrate a commitment to building a successful practice and have a genuine interest in the firm's diverse practice areas. Applicants must be currently enrolled as second-year law students and be legally eligible to work in the United States.
Compensation for the Summer Associate Program is competitive, with weekly salaries ranging from $2,884 to $3,942, depending on the office location. For example, the Seattle and Denver offices offer a weekly salary of $3,173. In addition to competitive compensation, the program includes various social activities designed to foster relationships within the Dickinson Wright community. These activities provide opportunities to network with attorneys and peers in a more informal setting.
Dickinson Wright is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse firm culture that empowers all of our attorneys to achieve their full potential. The firm believes that diverse teams of lawyers lead to better results for clients and a stronger, more thoughtful leadership at the firm. To that end, Dickinson Wright engages in a variety of strategies to ensure diverse representation at all attorney levels, from summer and first-year associates to equity partners and firm management.