Law Students

Our commitment to advancing your career begins as a summer associate at Choate. You are assigned three mentors to guide and assist you – a partner mentor, a mid-level associate mentor and a junior associate mentor. Our multiple-mentor approach is distinctive, and allows for meaningful interaction with lawyers at different stages of their careers. You will work closely with all three of your mentors, gaining experience and creating relationships which will continue throughout your career.

Summer associates are typically given an opportunity to contribute to Firm clients throughout our summer program. We encourage summer associates to work in as many of our areas of focus as interests them within their designated department. Taking on assignments similar to those given to first-year associates and working with multiple different practices means that you get a full picture of what day-to-day life at a major law firm is like.

Our summer associates work on case and deal teams, assisting on substantive projects for clients. Typical assignments include legal and factual research, memo writing, researching and contributing to briefs, drafting pleadings, drafting estate planning documents and participating in investigations, discovery and diligence projects. You will also be given the opportunity to assist with the community and pro bono work that is a part of Choate’s core mission.

Our goal is to ensure that you receive a wide range of projects to familiarize yourself with the Firm’s practices, as well as explore your own interests.

Choate is built different, and our differences provide material benefits to our clients and the best-in-class talent which joins us. We are focused on capitalizing on our distinctive model in everything we do. This includes associate compensation. Choate pays base salaries and “market” bonuses which are consistent with the top firms in the country.

Please contact us to learn more about Choate’s compensation and benefits programs.

At Choate, we’re devoted to providing the highest quality advice and service to our clients, and we recruit with this standard in mind. In addition to intelligence, interpersonal skills and drive, we look for the following traits in our candidates:

• Strong critical and analytical thinking.
• A commitment to excellent client service.
• Proven oral and written communication skills.
• A dedication to camaraderie and teamwork.
• A desire to become a great lawyer and build a career in BigLaw.

Please note we expect that your written work will be your own, without the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.

The application period for our 2026 Summer Associate program is closed. We look forward to sharing information about our next program in early spring 2026. Thank you.

Stay in touch with us! If you are a current 1L and want to hear about upcoming events, application dates, and ways to learn more about Choate, click here.

• The standard weekly compensation for a summer associate (consistent with a first-year associate salary).
• An additional award of $25,000 distributed at various milestones.
• Mentors who are committed to each fellow’s development and lasting throughout their career.
• Summer staffing throughout our corporate department so each fellow can begin to build skills important for long-term success.

This is a highly selective, merit-based fellowship awarded on a limited and competitive basis to applicants who are committed to practicing transactional law.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Enrolled as a first-year law student in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school (with an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2028).
• An exemplary record of academics in law school and college, leadership experience and other personal and professional achievements.
• A minimum of two years’ work experience prior to law school that is useful and relevant background for our transactional practices.
• A sincere interest and intention to practice as a transactional attorney at Choate after graduation.

At Choate, we’re devoted to providing the highest quality advice and service to our clients, and we recruit with this standard in mind. In addition to intelligence, interpersonal skills and drive, we look for the following traits in our candidates:

• Strong critical and analytical thinking.
• A commitment to excellent client service.
• Proven oral and written communication skills.
• A dedication to camaraderie and teamwork.
• A desire to become a great lawyer and build a career in BigLaw.

We will accept and review applications on a rolling basis in early 2026.

For consideration, please provide the following information:

• Current Resume – This should include your 1L summer job if applicable;
• Cover Letter – This should include what drives you to want to work in BigLaw in Boston;
• Personal Statement – One-page, single-spaced statement describing why your prior professional work experience will make you successful as a transactional lawyer at Choate;
• Transcript from first semester of law school; and
• Transcript from undergraduate/graduate institutions.

Please note:

• Only one application may be submitted.
• Applicants who are not awarded a corporate experienced hire fellowship may still be considered for our 2027 summer program.
• If selected for this Fellowship, recipients may not accept a 2L award from another law firm.

Any questions about the application process, please contact legalrecruiting@choate.com.

Please note we expect that your written work will be your own, without the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.

We will open our direct application in early Spring and review applications on a rolling basis. As soon as you feel informed and ready to make a decision, you should apply through our direct application on our website.  If participating in OCI is important to you, you can apply through your school’s OCI program (if Choate is a participant).  NOTE: If you apply to us through a direct application, please do not reapply to us through an OCI program or submit multiple direct applications. 

Yes, when applying we ask that you include your department interest in your application and cover letter.  Our summer associates are typically hired into our Litigation or Corporate departments. From time to time, summers also have the opportunity to work in our Wealth Management group. We ensure that each summer works in all practice areas within their assigned department during the summer. We also host numerous trainings and programs so summers can learn more about each practice area.

All interviews are conducted in-person or via Zoom.

Generally an offer will be extended within one to two weeks of callback interviews.

Summer associate salaries are based on a $225,000 annual first-year associate salary.

Our summer classes typically range in size from 15-20 law students. Since summer associates typically receive and accept an offer for full-time employment, our starting first year classes are a similar size.

Summer associates receive informal mid-summer and final check-in from the PD/Legal Recruiting Team and/or Hiring Partners. Additionally, they receive feedback routinely throughout the summer from the attorneys with whom they work.

Offers are usually extended towards the conclusion of the summer program.

Not at all. We give permanent offers to summer associates who accept one-year clerkships following graduation. We also pay a clerkship bonus and generally grant one year of class progression credit for Federal clerkships and clerkships with a State Supreme Court.

You can address it to Ashley Itson, Senior Manager of Law School Recruiting

If you have a question that isn’t answered on our website, or if you’d like to learn more about careers at Choate, you can contact a member of our recruiting team at legalrecruiting@choate.com