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Summer Associate Program


Applications for 2026 1L and 2027 2L opportunities are open as of November 1, 2025. Click here to apply.

It’s time to apply what you’ve learned in law school through real-world experience. In our summer program, you’ll learn how to put together a brief or contract, and how to collaborate with teams of lawyers and professionals to create innovative solutions.

Opportunities & Application Information

Gain valuable, hands-on experience early in your legal career as part of our 1L and 2L summer associate class.

Learn about our U.S. summer opportunities and selection process. 

Offices Hosting Summer Associates

Our program offers a balance of firmwide and local training to give our summer associates a true sense of working in a collaborative and multidimensional law firm. We offer summer associate programs in the following exciting metropolitan areas.

Your Summer Experience

Work Assignments

We don't put you through a formal practice group rotation. Instead, our assigning partners and work coordinators will help you discover practice areas that spark your curiosity.

Meaningful Events

The best way to get to know our lawyers is to connect and be yourself. Participate in networking events, join coffee chats and get involved in one of our many Firmwide Resource Groups. The firm hosts a Wellness Week over the summer and sponsors related activities, including activities to encourage firm personnel to give back to their local communities through community service and charitable giving.

Mentoring

Be mentored by a team of lawyers who will invest in your development from the start. Your mentors will make introductions across the firm, spend time one-on-one to answer questions and join you for networking events. Mentors will help you secure assignments in your areas of interest and navigate the program. They can also be a sounding board as you explore your career goals.

Professional Development & Training

We provide continuing training and development opportunities to help you explore your individual potential and reach your professional goals. Our Summer Program Academy teaches you foundational skills in research and writing, oral communication, relationship building, client service and more. You will participate in both practice-specific courses and general sessions on career growth and networking. 

  • Training Tailored for Growing Careers: We meet you where you are. Akin’s academies are custom designed for summer associates, international trainees, first-year associates, mid-level associates and new counsel.
  • Skills Training for Associates and Counsel: The Akin Client Excellence (ACE) Framework outlines the core skills that our associates and counsel are expected to achieve at each stage of their career to provide exemplary service to our clients and to build a successful career as a lawyer. Our robust training programs support our lawyers’ development in these core skills. 

Pro Bono

Working on pro bono matters helps you learn on the job and make a difference. You'll join your peers and senior lawyers working to profoundly empower people, organizations and causes.

Opportunity & Inclusion

We are committed to broadly recruiting exceptional talent at all levels and to fostering an inclusive culture that values collaboration and different perspectives. Learn more about the firm's commitment to Opportunity & Inclusion.

Your Well-Being

In programs across the firm, we promote the physical, emotional, financial and social well-being of our lawyers and staff. Your well-being is at the top of our minds. When the American Bar Association launched an unprecedented mental health and wellness campaign, we were among the first to sign on to enhance our existing efforts and we continue to expand our commitment.

Learn about our award-winning Be Well initiative >

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Our summer program is a ten-week experience designed to provide you with a clear understanding of what it is like to work as an associate at our firm. You will have the opportunity to work closely with our attorneys and gain exposure to real-world legal work. We believe this hands-on experience is invaluable for your career. Additionally, the program offers numerous networking opportunities, with events that allow you to connect not only with our attorneys but also with your fellow summer associates. Overall, the summer program is a rewarding, engaging, and enjoyable experience.

Our summer program is a ten-week experience designed to provide you with a clear understanding of what it is like to work as an associate at our firm. You will have the opportunity to work closely with our attorneys and gain exposure to real-world legal work. We believe this hands-on experience is invaluable for your career. Additionally, the program offers numerous networking opportunities, with events that allow you to connect not only with our attorneys but also with your fellow summer associates. Overall, the summer program is a rewarding, engaging, and enjoyable experience.

No, you are not required to select a practice group before starting at Akin as a summer associate. We encourage our summers to try a variety of projects across different groups to ensure they have a well-rounded summer experience. If you have a strong interest in a particular practice group, we encourage you to seek out projects from that group and get to know attorneys in that group.

No, you are not required to select a practice group before starting at Akin as a summer associate. We encourage our summers to try a variety of projects across different groups to ensure they have a well-rounded summer experience. If you have a strong interest in a particular practice group, we encourage you to seek out projects from that group and get to know attorneys in that group.

After our 2L summer associates have spent 10 weeks working across practice areas and trying a variety of assignments, we will collect your practice group preferences. Practice groups placements are communicated to fall associates the summer before they start. Practice placements are determined with input from practice group leaders and hiring partners and are based on careful consideration of associate preferences balanced with the current needs of the firm.

After our 2L summer associates have spent 10 weeks working across practice areas and trying a variety of assignments, we will collect your practice group preferences. Practice groups placements are communicated to fall associates the summer before they start. Practice placements are determined with input from practice group leaders and hiring partners and are based on careful consideration of associate preferences balanced with the current needs of the firm.

Our firm is deeply committed to serving our pro bono clients. During your summer at Akin, you will have the opportunity to actively engage in pro bono work and gain valuable experience.

For more information, contact:

Our firm is deeply committed to serving our pro bono clients. During your summer at Akin, you will have the opportunity to actively engage in pro bono work and gain valuable experience.

For more information, contact:

“My summer at Akin consisted of substantive, client facing assignments that required interactions with attorneys at high levels throughout the firm. Having the opportunity to work day-to-day with the partner in charge, department leads, and other well-established attorneys demonstrated the collaborative nature of the firm and its associates.”
- Former Akin summer associate

Highly Rated Programs 

  • Top 5 ranked in The American Lawyer’s 2025 Midlevel Associates Survey.
  • Top 20 ranked for 'Best Law Firms to Work For', 'Best Summer Associate Program' - Vault 2026.
  • 'The Elite' ranked for Associate Retention and Quality of Life Surveys - Chambers' 2025 Associate Satisfaction Survey.
  • A List Firm - The American Lawyer 2025.

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