Your Journey Starts Here

Where and how you spend your law school summers can have a big impact on your legal career. If you are looking for a firm that values academic excellence, leadership, curiosity, and innovation consider DWT. As a summer associate, you’ll experience diversity in your work and engage in stimulating assignments. Your mentors will be industry leaders who are invested in your growth and success. The Summer Associates Program is rich with activities and trainings designed to integrate you into the fabric of the firm.

We are accepting summer associate applications until July 31, 2022 at 11:59 PM PST for the following positions:

  • 2L Summer Associate – Seattle
  • 2L Summer Associate – Portland
  • 2L Litigation Summer Associate – San Francisco
  • 2L Patent Prosecution Diversity Scholarship Position – Seattle

Apply

2L Opportunities/On-Campus Interviews

We are excited to be participating in the On-Campus Interviews and Job Fairs below.

  • University of Washington School of Law – Wednesday, August 3, 2022
  • Seattle University Law School – Thursday, August 4, 2022
  • NYU Global Virtual Event – Wednesday, April 6, 2022
  • Patent Law Interview Program – Friday, July 22, 2022
  • Lavender Law – Friday, July 29, 2022
  • University of Oregon School of Law – Tuesday, August 2, 2022
  • Lewis & Clark Law School – Friday, August 5, 2022
  • Willamette Law School – Tuesday, August 9, 2022
  • Southern Region of the Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) Career Fair – TBD
  • Northwest Minority Job Fair – TBD

To Apply

We only accept applications online, and our application site will be open until Saturday, July 31st at 11:59 pm PST. Click here to apply.

To ensure you have a complete application packet, we ask that you include the following information:

  • Cover letter
  • Current resume
  • Copy of your law transcript (unofficial is fine)
  • Copy of your complete undergraduate transcript (unofficial is fine). You may still apply if you have yet to receive your grades. Simply upload once you have them.
  • List of three references, one of whom should be a person qualified to comment on your law school work.
  • Writing sample, unedited by a third party (5-10 pages)

Summer Associate FAQ

When and how do I apply for a summer associate position?
We are currently accepting applications online for Portland and Seattle offices where 2L positions are available. We will begin accepting applications for 1L’s starting on December 1st for our 1L Diversity Scholarship. We participate in some virtual on-campus interviews this season, but aren’t able to visit every law school. If DWT seems to be a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply online (please do not email us your application). Typically half of our summer class is made up of students who have sought us out directly. Please make sure your contact information is current and that your voicemail can receive messages.
For the Diversity Scholarship, what are you looking for in my personal essay?
The purpose of the essay is to learn more about you and topics can vary widely. Some suggestions might include:
What kind of challenge have you overcome and what have you learned from the experience? What is it about diversity that drives you? How might you contribute to our community in the future? What would you like us to know about you that is not in your resume?

Your personal statement should be no more than one page, single-spaced, and 12-point font. Please include your name but do not address your personal statement to anyone.
Which offices participate in the summer associate programs?
We will have summer associates in most of our offices this year: Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and Washington, D.C. All of these offices will have a 1L Diversity Scholar, but only the San Francisco, Portland and Seattle offices will recruit for 2L Summer Associates this season.
How does the interview process work?
  • Initial: A candidate will meet with one or two people via video and the meeting will take up to an hour.
  • Callbacks/Second round: Pre-COVID, these took place in our office and usually involved meeting 6-8 people. Currently, we will conduct second round interviews by video and they may last up to 3 hours with a few breaks in between.
What should I wear?
Even in the more relaxed remote world, the dress code for interviews is still business professional though attorneys with whom you meet may be dressed more casually. Once you are a summer associate, we adhere to business casual.
How long will it be before I hear from DWT?
Our online application site for 2L summer associate positions will open on June 1st and close on July 31st. We typically begin initial interviews in July with second round interviews beginning in August. The Hiring Committee makes every effort to contact candidates soon after the callback interview. This committee meets on a regular basis during the recruitment season, but because we have a high volume of applicants, the wait time can be a couple of weeks during interview season. If you have completed the second round of interviews, we welcome periodic check-ins on the status of your candidacy. We strongly encourage you to keep us informed of any timelines for offer you may receive while you are being considered by us.
What is the length of the summer program?
Typically 10 weeks and runs from June to August. Exact start and end dates will be shared with the summer class in the spring.
Can I split my summer with another firm?
In order to give you the best possible chance at an offer, we do not recommend splitting your summer with another firm.
What kind of work will I get?
If the work is there and you want to try it, it’s yours! We do not have a rotation so you are able to take any work that is available from any group. However, please note that our 1L Summer Associate in the San Francisco office will focus on Energy Law and our Patent Scholar will focus on patent prosecution. We pride ourselves on offering you with opportunities that give you a real glimpse of what it is like to practice at DWT. Some summer associates have assisted with trial prep, attended client meetings, worked directly with partners, attended depositions, etc. We also encourage summer associates to work on pro bono projects, which often results in direct client contact and courtroom experience.
What kind of training will there be?
Impactful! You will gain exposure to each practice group, attend litigation writing and transactional drafting seminars in addition to having access to a writing advisor and your mentors. Additionally, summer associates are invited to attend various training programs delivered by our Professional Development department as well as training and meetings hosted by practice groups. And of course, you will also learn a great deal of on-the-job training by collaborating in small client teams doing real work and getting real feedback.
Will I have a mentor, secretary and an office?
We will assign an associate and a partner mentor for you over the summer as well as an assistant. If we are in-person, you will also be assigned an office, though some of our locations are nearing capacity, so we ask for your flexibility. Growth is a good problem to have!
What kind of summer associate events do you offer?
Social events vary by office and whether the program is in-person or virtual, but a few events from year’s past include: riddle trivia night, sailing, baseball games, group dinners, Puzzle Escape, karaoke, concerts, happy hours, a cooking party, and lots of coffee dates!
Who are we looking for?
We value great writing skills and academic excellence, but know that true success is determined by personal characteristics that cannot be taught. We want the right person. Someone who contributes to our increasingly diverse, friendly and hard-working culture – someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but who will do what it takes to put forth their best work. Someone who can get back up again and who will accept the help of a colleague and offer help in return. We want people who will be active in our communities, both inside and outside of the firm. Our culture is special, and we think it’s worth finding the right person for.
Who can I contact with additional questions?
Hiroko Peraza
Sr. Manager of Lawyer Recruiting & Inclusion
hirokoperaza@dwt.com

Sandra Morriss
Law Student Recruiting Manager
sandramorriss@dwt.com

Alexandra Valenti
Recruiting Specialist
alexandravalenti@dwt.com

Job Opportunities