United States Emerging Lawyers Academy

Future-Ready Training: Summer Associates participate in a foundational training curriculum to develop practical legal skills, client-service excellence, professional judgment, and AI fluency through innovative workshops and simulations. They will come together for the Emerging Lawyers Academy Meeting at a designated US office to enable cross-office connections and skills-based training.

Our Summer Associates, alongside our lawyers, have opportunities to contribute to our pro bono efforts across priority impact areas, including children’s rights, gender justice, justice crossing borders, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and the rule of law. Through this work, Summer Associates engage with teams of problem-solvers addressing compelling social justice challenges around the globe.

Summer Associates are paired with Partner and Associate mentors who facilitate introductions and ensure Summer Associates receive the proper amount and variety of work and feedback.

There are ample opportunities for networking with attorneys, clients, and other Summer Associates over the course of the Emerging Lawyers Academy through our planned social activities and local or regional Firm events.

Commercial

We have the global reach and deep industry expertise to help navigate complex legal problems and situations associated with taking products, services, business models, IP and contracts international.

Dispute Resolution

Our team of more than 150 litigators has tried cases in virtually every jurisdiction in North America, and we leverage our familiarity with the judges and opposing counsel to effectively and efficiently resolve disputes.

Employment & Compensation

Our team of Employment & Compensation lawyers work with domestic and multinational businesses to navigate all of their employment needs, from day-to-day human resources requirements to sensitive employment litigation to critical global business change projects. As strategic business partners, we help clients manage their primary asset – their people.

Tax

Our global team of experienced lawyers, economists, and tax advisors combines deep industry knowledge and technical skill to deliver integrated advice that seamlessly aligns to our clients' businesses. We look at tax from every direction and provide full-scale solutions — from policy to planning, from transactions to dispute resolution.

Transactional

Our Transactional practice group advises clients on everything from mergers and acquisitions to IPOs and reorganizations of group structures, and from private equity investments and public company takeovers to insider dealing.

Summer associates can participate in unique experiences aimed to develop their skills-based and practice-based training, both inside and outside the Firm. We offer opportunities to be considered for secondment opportunities with our clients, traveling and working domestically and internationally with Baker McKenzie offices, supporting our world-class pro-bono efforts and applying for our Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Legal Fellowship Program.

Client Summer Scholars Program The Baker McKenzie Client Summer Scholars Program is a unique experience for our summer associates. Client summer scholars spend two to four weeks after the Baker McKenzie Summer Program working onsite with a client and gaining valuable in-house legal experience. Client summer scholars are paid the Baker McKenzie summer associate salary for the duration of the experience and come away with expanded networks and unique insight into the in-house career path. Past client summer scholars have worked in Memphis, Cupertino, Naperville, Mountain View and many other cities across the country. We encourage all summer associates to apply to these opportunities. There are a limited number of spots available each year and we encourage all summer associates to apply. Read testimonials from past client summer scholars Baker McKenzie ID&E Fellowship The Baker McKenzie Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Fellowship Program furthers our commitment to recruit and develop talented lawyers who seek to champion a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable legal profession. We offer 1L and 2L ID&E Fellowships which are awarded to candidates who share the Firm's mission to champion a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable legal profession. Fellows are awarded USD 50,000, which is dispersed across intervals of acceptance as a summer associate and first-year associate. Candidates are eligible to apply for the Fellowship upon completion of their callback interview. Learn more about our ID&E commitment Pro Bono Every year our summer associates collaborate on a signature pro bono project. Our pro bono practice focuses efforts in areas of strategic focus, our IMPACT areas. These include Children's Rights, Gender Justice, Justice Crossing Borders, LGBTQ Advocacy, and Rule of Law. Learn more about our Pro Bono practice Visiting Summer Experience Summer Associates will have the opportunity to work in other offices domestically and/or internationally during their summer experience. This experience will allow Summer Associates to work cross-office and cross-practice by building relationships with attorneys and colleagues across multiple locations.

Strong academic foundation and intellectual curiosity — students who have demonstrated academic achievement, sound judgment, discipline, and a genuine interest in learning.

Growth mindset and openness to exploration — candidates who are excited to work across different practice areas, receive feedback, and use the summer experience to better understand where they will thrive.

Future-ready skillset — students who show strong analytical ability, practical problem-solving, and an interest in developing AI fluency and innovation-minded client service.

Global mindset — candidates who are curious about cross-border work, comfortable building relationships across offices and diverse cultures, and interested in serving clients in a global firm environment.

Interest in long-term development at Baker McKenzie — students who see the Emerging Lawyers Academy as more than a summer program experience and are interested in growing into future associates and global lawyers.

Baker & McKenzie LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people — regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age — to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates. Should candidates require any accommodations when applying to or interviewing with our Firm, please notify our recruitment team.

We actively recruit first- and second-year law students at ABA accredited law schools. We accept direct applications from candidates who meet our hiring criteria. The Firm actively participates in student outreach and interviewing programs during each recruitment season. Our 2027 1L and 2028 2L Summer Associate positions open November 1, 2026 and close on March 1, 2027. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be conducted virtually or in-person depending upon candidate location.