As a FAIDPL Scholar, seize exclusive summer internship and clerkship opportunities! Connect with our network of law firms for details and apply. Please note that there are new openings available for Summer 2025, while some positions have already been filled. Remember to mention your scholar status in your email. Have questions? Reach out to us at fadipl@diversityiniplaw.org. Your next exciting step is just a message away!
Current Vacancies
NEW! Latham & Watkins, Our summer program gives you a sense of a junior associate’s life at Latham. As a summer associate, you will meaningfully contribute to work through our Unassigned Program, which empowers you to explore our 50+ practices, while balancing the firm’s strategic needs, and participating in pro bono matters. We encourage you to pursue your interests and gain valuable substantive experience by collaborating with leading experts across various fields. Assigned mentors will answer your questions and help guide you through the summer. Like our associates, you will be engaged in substantive matters and receive real-time feedback. Networking and building relationships with Latham professionals is an essential part of your summer — and your career. You will have opportunities to join practice group presentations, participate in affinity group events, and attend casual lunches and social events with our lawyers.
Summer Program Details:
- Start and End date: Summer 2025
- Technical Background Required: Yes
- Locations: Select US locations, use link below to see details
- Program Link: https://www.lwcareers.com
Contact: If you have any questions please reach out to Julia Graham: julia.graham@lw.com
Thomas|Horstemeyer, is an Intellectual Property law firm based in Atlanta, GA. The firm is currently accepting resumes for law clerks for our summer 2025 program. The summer program at Thomas|Horstemeyer involves significant training including a structured seminar program coupled with close mentorship working on various client matters in the field of IP, particularly patent prosecution, trademark, copyright, and litigation.
Summer Program Details:
- Start and End date: Summer 2025
- Technical Background Required: Yes, the ideal candidates will have an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science, but we are open to considering all science degrees.
- Program Link: https://thip.law/careers/
Contact: If interested, please send your resume, transcripts, and cover letter to: recruiting@thip.law.
Merchant & Gould, The Summer Associate Program has been our primary source of new associates for many years. The program is open to first-year and second-year law students of all backgrounds and is designed to provide a stimulating and diverse educational experience for exceptional law students nationwide. Summer Associates are given significant projects and work closely with the assigning attorney. In many ways, these work projects are similar to those given to new associates.
We believe it is imperative for Summer Associates to understand both the prosecution and litigation aspects of intellectual property law; as a result, Summer Associates are strongly encouraged to delve into both areas during the summer. Evaluations are conducted mid-summer and at summer's end.
Our weekly In-House Training Program is designed to provide exposure to as many practice areas as possible. Summer Associates are also invited to attend the monthly practice group meetings as well as the attorney training seminars.
Exciting social events (on large, small, formal and informal scales) are planned throughout the summer. It is during the social events that many of the future professional relationships are founded and long-lasting friendships are formed.
Summer Program Details:
- Start and End Date: TBD
- Duration: 10 Weeks
- Job Qualifications/Technical Background Required: Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, life sciences or related degrees. Advanced degree and industry experience preferred. Scientific or technical background not required for litigation practice. Top 25% in undergrad and law school preferred. Law review or moot court a plus. To be considered, please apply online at Career Opportunities (merchantgould.com). You will need to provide a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school/undergrad transcripts, and a writing sample. Merchant & Gould provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
We encourage candidates with disabilities. If you need any accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Department at humanrecources@merchantgould.com or 1-612-332-5300. - Location: Summer Associates can be located in Denver - CO, Minneapolis - MN, Atlanta - GA, New York - NY, Washington - DC, Knoxville - TN
. - Program Link: 2025 Summer Associate - MERCHANT & GOULD PC - Career Page (applytojob.com)
Contact: If you have any questions, please reach out to Rachel Atencio ratencio@merchantgould.com
Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, Sterne Kessler’s Summer Associate program is the primary source for our entry-level attorney class each year. It is our priority to present challenging responsibilities and opportunities to our Summer Associates in a hardworking, yet supportive atmosphere. Our Summer Associates work on matters that involve cutting-edge technologies, developed by a broad range of innovative individuals and companies.
This early application posting opens on April 1, 2024. We will review applications on a rolling basis and schedule interviews as we review applications. All first-round interviews will be held virtually. Candidates selected for a second-round interview will be given the choice of an in-person interview or a virtual interview
Summer Program Details:
- Duration: 10 weeks
- Estimated program dates: May 19 - July 25, 2025
- Technical Background Required: STEM background/patent bar eligibility needed for prosecution groups (Mechanical, Electronics, Biotech + Chemical). STEM degrees preferred but not required for litigation groups.
- Location: Washington, DC. Our Summer 2025 program will be held in-person in our Washington, D.C. office. Summer Associates can work hybrid schedules and have 1-2 work-from-home days per week.
- Summer Associate Link: https://shorturl.at/D6sXZ
- Program Link: https://shorturl.at/81H13
Contact: If you have any questions, please contact Heather Molina at hmolina@sternekessler.com
Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C., is an intellectual property law firm based in Washington, D.C. We are not just a law firm, we’re a tight-knit community passionate about what we do. We practice intellectual property law and technology law – and we’re good at it. We share the same belief as our clients that our people – our attorneys and the staff who support them – are what set us apart from every law firm. The people we hire are accomplished and smart, and we invest in their careers through mentoring, training, and developmental opportunities.
We provide our summer associates with substantive work that accurately reflects what it is like to be a full time associate at the firm. We work in sophisticated technological areas such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, computer hardware, software and the Internet, semiconductors, advanced electronics, and a wide variety of medical and mechanical systems and devices. As a summer associate, you will have the opportunity to work closely with our attorneys on both patent litigation and patent prosecution matters. You will get substantive work conducting legal research, drafting memoranda and briefs, working with a team on litigation matters, as well as reviewing and responding to USPTO Office Actions.
Summer Program Details:
- Duration: 10 weeks
- Start and End Date: 5/19/25 – 7/25/25
- Technical Background Required: Electrical Engineering; Computer Engineering; Computer Science; Mechanical Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Biology; Biochemistry; Chemistry and other Life Sciences
- Location: Washington, DC; We offer a hybrid work schedule (3 days in office; 2 days remote)
- Program Link: https://resumes.rothwellfigg.com/videsktop/viRecruitselfapply/RecDefault.aspx?FilterREID=2&FilterJobCategoryID=2&FilterJobID=35
*If you apply directly, please identify that they are part of the FADIPL scholars program in their cover letter.
Contact: If you have any questions, please reach out to Halle Sabo- hsabo@rothwellfigg.com
Wolf, Greenfield, & Sacks P.C., What is practicing intellectual property law at Wolf Greenfield really like? Our summer program will immerse you in our work and culture, and you’ll learn firsthand why we have industry leading attorney retention rates. From cybersquatting to snowboard binding design to free speech cases, our summers have helped IP clients solve problems, move innovations forward, and protect cutting edge inventions.
Summer Program Details:
- Start and End Date: Summer 2025
- Technical Background Required: We are accepting 2L Summer Associate applications for Summer 2025. The following practice groups are considering candidates in all offices: Biotechnology, Electrical & Computer Technologies, Litigation, Mechanical Technologies, Post-Grant Proceedings, and Trademark & Copyright. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
- Location: We have offices in Boston, New York City and Washington, DC.
- Program Link: https://wolfgreenfield.com/careers/summer-program
Contact: If you have any questions, please reach out to Lauren Russo- lauren.russo@wolfgreenfield.com; Director of Recruiting lindsay.howard@wolfgreenfield.com
Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A., The firm is seeking current law students for its summer clerkship program. Our summer clerkship program provides aspiring patent attorneys with a thorough exposure to the profession. Summer clerks work under the mentorship of our attorneys to assist with a variety of client projects related to patent prosecution. These projects may include preparation of responses to office actions, preparation of patent applications, conducting searches for prior art, and preparing appeal briefs.
Summer Program Details:
- Duration: Summer 2025
- Technical Background Required: Applicants should be current law students and have a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. Equivalent degrees will be considered. Advanced degrees are a plus.Technical work experience is highly valued, especially industry experience in designing, developing, testing, or supporting software, hardware, or networking technologies. Applicants should be interested in patent law, as shown by coursework or legal experience. An ideal applicant is able to demonstrate a strong interest in patent prosecution specifically. Candidates who are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are encouraged to apply.
- Location: San Jose, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Hybrid
- Program Link: https://www.slwip.com/join-us/2025-summer-clerkship-program/
Contact: If you have any questions, please reach out to Holly Cosentino- hcosentino@slwip.com
USPTO (multiple summer opportunities), From real-world experience to real-world application, our student programs have the future in mind. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides talented high school seniors and college students with unique opportunities to leverage their innate skills while developing new ones for the 21st century. If you are looking for variety to meet your academic and professional goals, consider our summer and annual employment programs.
Summer Programs include:
- USPTO Internship Program (Anthony Bowen)
- Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program
- Innovation Internship
- Trademark Law Internship
- IP Skills Work-Based Learning Program
- USPTO Extern Program
- Virtual Student Federal Service Internships
- Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) Law Internship
- Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program
Summer Program Details:
- Duration: 10 weeks- 2 years (depends on the program)
- Start and End Date: Varies
- Location: Varies
- Program Link: https://www.uspto.gov/jobs/student-programs
Contact: Please contact Daniella Opabajo if you have any questions, fadipl@diversityiniplaw.org
Contact
Foundation Program Manager
Daniella Opabajo
fadipl@diversityiniplaw.org
571-882-4472