2026 1L Summer Associate

Our Summer Program offers law students an exceptional opportunity to gain practical legal experience. You’ll work directly with lawyers across a wide range of practice areas, on “real world” assignments that will challenge and inspire you. You’ll also connect with Irell lawyers at all levels, developing bonds that often last a lifetime. We are looking for a diverse group of candidates who demonstrate superior academic abilities, intellectual curiosity and the potential to become outstanding lawyers. We encourage students who may have had other jobs and careers in addition to their law school education to apply, as well as law students with technical degrees. When you arrive, you’ll be assigned an associate mentor. You will receive assignments typical for first-year associates from the Summer Committee. You’ll also be invited to attend team meetings, client meetings, negotiations, court appearances, depositions and trials. And you can participate in pro bono work and community service projects, including adoption proceedings for needy children and their adoptive families. Training and education is a critical component of our Summer Program. We host a series of informational programs, including “Lunch with the Managing Partner,” “Legends of the Firm,” “Trademark Year in Review,” “Pro Bono at Irell,” “IP at I&M” and “Art Law at Irell,” among others. Summer associates are also invited to the regular continuing legal education (CLE) programs, outside speaker events and training sessions. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to participate with lawyers and staff in our annual mock trial—a wrongful death trial of Wyatt Earp, tried by a jury and presided over by a judge. Building connections is a key objective of our Summer Program. All summer associates attend a weekend retreat on Catalina Island and a firmwide party at a hotel location central to our Los Angeles and Newport Beach offices. Other events have included a kick-off bash at the start of the summer, beach parties and karaoke parties. We encourage our lawyers to socialize with summer associates through informal dinners, lunches and other activities. In the past, lawyers and summer associates have organized rock climbing excursions, surfing classes, cooking classes, rounds of golf and grilled cheese and beer tastings, among other outings.⁠​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌⁠GIH-GBL_florecruit-florecruit_irell_MjA2NDJ-VmFJcFBQY2VFbDBEUkZORlBpUlh2ZWFOVWtIT0d0_LosA