Summer Associate Program

Commit to the future of law.

Choosing to summer at Goodwin means committing to excellence, interacting with the world's most leading and innovative clients, and experiencing life as an associate alongside the most talented and elite legal minds.

What does excellence look like at Goodwin? It starts with you.

Designed to be a comprehensive and engaging experience, our Summer Program is a launchpad for you to develop the skills, insight, and experience to confidently bring your expertise into the legal world.

With our guidance, you’ll grow your network, find valuable mentorship, and gain exposure to some of the world’s most recognizable companies and major players. During our ten-week program, you’ll be empowered to shape your own professional development and career aspirations while enjoying the experience alongside others equally driven to succeed.

Applications Now Open

Apply to be considered for our Summer program.

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The Goodwin Excellence Program provides a $25,000 stipend to eligible students who join our 2027 Summer Associate Program and complete qualifying legal work during their 2026 1L summer.

Eligibility

All 2L candidates who accept an offer to join our 2027 Summer Associate Program are eligible to receive the stipend (provided they spend their 2026 1L summer in a qualifying position).

Qualifying positions* may include:

At a company or organization aligned with Goodwin’s industries of focus: technology, life sciences, healthcare, private equity, investment funds, or real estate
At a public interest or nonprofit organization, government, or academic institution

*Subject to approval and conditions apply.

Stipend Details

Eligible students will receive a one-time stipend of $25,000, payable in Summer 2026. Receipt of the stipend is subject to a clawback provision if the student ultimately does not join us for their 2027 Summer Associate Program.

Complete an assessment by Suited. If you've already completed the assessment, log into your Suited account and share your results by accepting our invitation to connect. Please ensure that you use the same email address for both your application and assessment. Refer to their Student Resource Guide for more info.

Goodwin has partnered with Suited, a candidate screening platform, to help us better understand our applicants and expand access to our Summer Associate program. Our goal is to make the recruiting process as fair and seamless as possible, so that we can find candidates who will be fulfilled in their roles and complementary to our culture. Your results will be used as just one of many factors in evaluating your candidacy.

New York City Local Law No. 144 Notice: Pursuant to New York City Local Law No. 144, Goodwin provides the following disclosures: Goodwin uses the automated employment decision tool Suited to assess candidates who seek employment with the firm as attorneys, including candidates who reside in New York City. Suited exclusively collects and analyzes psychometric data provided by individual candidates during each candidate’s assessment. Goodwin retains candidate scores generated by Suited for three (3) years. For more information regarding Goodwin’s use of Suited, please contact Karen Rameika.

Goodwin’s most recent bias audit of Suited can be accessed here.

Check out our FAQ for more program details.

We have partnered with Forage to offer self-paced job simulations for law students to experience a realistic look at the work junior associates perform. Get an inside view by visiting the following simulations:

By The Numbers

13%

compound annual growth rate in firm revenue (2020-2024)

33

law schools represented in the 2026 class

99%

of Summer Associates receive an entry-level offer

92%

of Summer Associates accept their entry-level offer

Your Experience

Elite Work

Get exposure to elite client work within the most dynamic leaders, companies, and industries transforming the future.

Training

Get the resources and tools to achieve results, explore your personal career aspirations, and figure out your next step.

Mentorship

Your success is our success. As you chart your course, our lawyers and Global Operations Team will help you succeed both professionally and personally.

Culture

Enjoy your time with us! Connect with your class, experience our unique culture, and build your community and network.

Pro Bono

Share in our commitment to champion the legal rights of those in need and see how you can make a lasting impact through pro bono.

Opportunity, Inclusion, Belonging

Experience our commitment to opportunity, inclusion, and belonging as we create opportunities for our people, clients, and the communities in which we operate to thrive.

Finding Your Focus

With several core industries and services to choose from, finding the one for you is the first step. Hear from our lawyers about what to expect, highlights, and more.