Summer Associates

As a Sterne Kessler summer associate, you can expect:

• Meaningful assignments that reflect the work of our entry-level attorneys
• Opportunities to contribute to sophisticated and high-profile IP matters
• Direct access to directors, associates, patent agents, technical specialists, and other professionals
• Formal and informal mentorship from attorneys invested in your development
• Regular feedback that helps you strengthen your work and practical legal skills
• A collaborative environment where questions and new perspectives are encouraged
• Social and networking opportunities that help you build relationships throughout the firm

Summer associates join a specific practice group while becoming part of a close-knit IP community in Washington, D.C., in proximity to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

Our clients are innovators, established companies, emerging businesses, inventors, and universities developing technologies and brands that affect how people live, work, communicate, and solve problems.

The matters handled across our four practice groups connect IP law with a wide range of industries and disciplines:

Biotechnology & Chemical: therapeutic antibodies, pharmaceuticals, DNA sequencing, cancer-detection technologies, and other life sciences innovations

Electronics: artificial intelligence, machine learning, software, semiconductors, communications, digital graphics, and bioinformatics

Mechanical & Design: consumer products, medical devices, mechanical systems, packaging, digital interfaces, utility and design patents, trademarks, and copyright

Trial & Appellate: complex patent disputes in federal district courts, proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and ITC, and appeals before the Federal Circuit

Sterne Kessler has designed training programs that evolve with new legal and technical developments, helping you build practical skills that you can apply directly to your assignments.

Summer associates receive guidance from a structured advising team that includes a professional development advisor, an associate or counsel advisor, and a junior timekeeper. You will also have opportunities to learn from professionals throughout the firm through assignments, feedback, practice-group activities, training programs, informal conversations, and firm events.

Throughout the summer, you will receive informal feedback intended to help you improve your work as assignments progress. The program also includes a formal end-of-summer evaluation so that you can understand your development, recognize your strengths, and identify areas for continued growth.

The result is a summer experience that combines real responsibility with the support, training, and relationships needed to begin building a successful career in IP law.

If you are a current law student interested in intellectual property law, we encourage you to review our current openings and apply directly through the Sterne Kessler careers page.

Additionally, we participate in select IP-specific job fairs and on-campus interviews (OCI) at select law schools.

Summer associates are hired into a specific practice group. Students should apply separately to each position for which they are qualified and genuinely interested. Requirements vary by practice group, so carefully review each job posting before applying.

Please contact Heather Molina ([email protected]) if you have any questions.