2028 2L Summer Associate – Boston

Your legal career starts with work that matters. From day one, you’ll take on associate-level assignments for real clients and learn directly from partners who are invested in your success.

Each summer associate is paired with one or more dedicated mentors who offer day-to-day guidance and practical advice on the move from law school to a law firm. Formal feedback at the midpoint and end of the program shows you where you’re strong and what to focus on next.

The program is built around your professional growth and well-being. Writing workshops, hands-on skills sessions, and substantive practice group programming help you build confidence and sharpen your legal skills. Through McDermott Well, you’ll have access to resources and events on balance and resilience, helping you feel supported in and out of the office.

We celebrate individuality and make space for you to bring your full self to the table, guided by trust and respect. You’ll meet lawyers and fellow summer associates across the firm, join a community built on collaboration and giving back, and build relationships that will last beyond the summer.

For more information regarding our initiatives, please view our recruiting brochure: mcdermottlaw.com/pdf/join-us-at-mcdermott

Position details

McDermott is seeking 2L summer associates to join us for our 10-week 2028 Summer Associate Program. Our program offers summer associates a realistic introduction to the practice of law and day-to-day life as a McDermott associate. The summer associate program provides meaningful responsibility and feedback that is consistent with a junior associate experience.

As part of the application and interview process, applicants are asked to identify their primary practice area(s) of interest. With the exception of our Intellectual Property group, which formally hires summer associates into the practice, summer associates are generally aligned with a practice group based on those interests and the anticipated needs of the office. This approach allows us to provide more meaningful work assignments, facilitate mentorship opportunities, and help summer associates build relationships and integrate into the practice group they may ultimately join as first-year associates. While summer associates will primarily receive assignments from their designated practice group, they are also encouraged to explore other areas of interest and may take on assignments from other practice groups throughout the summer.

For the 2028 Summer Program, we are looking for candidates interested in the practice areas noted below. If you are interested in IP Litigation, please apply via the IP Litigation posting.

Boston: Data, Privacy, & Cybersecurity, Health & Life Sciences; Intellectual Property Litigation; Litigation; U.S. & International Tax (Planning) 

Compensation

2028 Summer Associates will receive weekly compensation of $4,519, less applicable taxes and withholdings. McDermott is committed to supporting our incoming 2L Summer Associates, and candidates who accept our offer become eligible for up to $50,000 in bonuses, payable across three (3) installments. Additional details will be shared during the interview process.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from any law student who is enrolled at a US ABA-accredited law school with:

• A strong record of academic and personal achievement
• A demonstrated focus in a general practice area offered in your office of interest
• A genuine interest in pursuing a career at McDermott upon graduation
• The intent to live and practice in the geographic area of your office of interest
• Anticipated JD graduation in spring 2029

Application process

We will accept applications on a rolling basis beginning November 2, 2026. Please submit the following via our application portal:

• Resume
• Cover letter (include your practice area interests and, if applying to multiple offices, your order of preference and any ties to those markets not reflected on your resume)
• Writing sample (your own work; if you don’t yet have one from law school, a sample from a prior academic program is acceptable)
• Undergraduate transcript and any graduate transcripts
• Law school transcript (depending on when you apply, it may not yet show grades)

Questions? Visit our law students page to find contact information for the talent acquisition team member in the office(s) in which you are interested: mcdermottlaw.com/careers/law-students/