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Applying To Our Summer Program

We seek talented and motivated individuals who share our well-known commitment to excellence. We assess candidates for summer associate positions based on an overall evaluation of their background and strengths. This evaluation includes, but is by no means limited to, academic distinction in law school and undergraduate education. We also look for students with strong motivation and initiative, the ability to take on responsibility, and enthusiasm for private law practice. The firm has long been committed to the highest standards of the profession and public service, and we look actively for new lawyers to continue in that tradition.

1L Summer Applicants

Applications for 2026 1L Summer Associate positions will open on November 3, 2025. Please see below for a list of positions.

LCLD: We partner with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) to hire 1L summer associates. The 1L Scholars Program gives law students the opportunity to work side-by-side with attorneys from Covington and a partnering client in select offices. This position is available in our New York, San Francisco, and Washington offices.

2026 LCLD 1L Scholar - Job Description

 
Patent Litigation: Our 1L Patent Litigation Summer Program offers aspiring patent litigators the opportunity to receive in-depth training and tailored mentoring from lawyers in our award-winning Patent Litigation practice. This position is available in our Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, and San Francisco, and Washington offices.

2026 1L Patent Litigation - Job Description

 
Life Sciences: Our 1L Life Sciences Summer Program offers interested law students the opportunity to work with our lawyers on a broad and exciting range of matters in the life sciences industry. This position is available in our Boston office.

2026 1L Life Sciences - Job Description

 
Life Sciences Transactions: Our 1L Life Sciences Transactions Summer Program offers interested law students the opportunity to work with our lawyers on a broad and exciting range of transactional matters in the life sciences industry. This position is available in our Washington office.

2026 1L Life Sciences Transactions - Job Description
  
  

2L Summer Applicants

Applications for 2027 2L Summer Associate positions will open on December 1, 2025.

2027 2L SUMMER ASSOCIATE - JOB DESCRIPTION

Our 10-week Summer Associate Program offers law students the opportunity to work with our lawyers on a broad and exciting range of legal matters. This position is available in our Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Washington, DC offices.

Law students in the graduating class of 2028 may submit direct applications via our applicant portal from December 1, 2025 through January 30, 2026. Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, undergraduate transcript, writing sample, and list of references. A law school transcript should be submitted when available. You can learn more about our reference policy in our FAQs. If you wish to apply to more than one office, please submit a separate application for each location.

We will also be participating in a limited number of law school-sponsored interview programs in January and February, with participation varying by office. Students are encouraged to check with their Career Services Offices for current information. Students may apply through their preferred application method, whether through our applicant portal, through a school-sponsored program, or through both options.

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis throughout the winter, with timelines varying by office. We ask that students update their application with a law school transcript as soon as first-semester grades are available. Offers will not be extended without a final first-semester transcript.

At Covington, we strive to maintain the highest standards of integrity to ensure the commercial success and reputation of our firm. One means by which we do this is through conducting routine background checks, which is a requirement of joining Covington. The standard pre-employment background checks we may conduct on prospective partners, lawyers, and employees include checks relating to public social media presence, criminal records, education, and employment history. Additional checks may be undertaken appropriate to the requirements of the role. All background checks are conducted in accordance with applicable local laws.