United States Law Students

1L Summer Associate Program- Richard Mintz Diversity Fellowship

At Mintz, we strive to create an environment where people from all backgrounds are positioned for success. As part of our commitment to promoting diversity at the firm, and in the legal profession, we have awarded diversity scholarships to exemplary diverse law students each year since 2010. The scholarships are given to community-minded law students from diverse backgrounds who have shown academic excellence and commitment to diversity. Its namesake, Richard Mintz (1921 – 2011), the firm’s longest serving partner and the son of a founding partner, was known for his passion for people and his commitment to creating a progressive workplace.

Each summer we host first-year students in our Summer Associate program as Richard Mintz Diversity Fellows. Our 1L Summer Associates participate in the same enriching summer program described below, with the additional benefit of working directly with a Mintz client and as Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars. 1L Summer Associates to spend a significant period of time, generally one to three weeks, working with a Mintz client’s in-house legal team. In past years, students have worked with clients such as LPL Financial, Johnson & Johnson, and Citizens. A lawyer in the client’s in house legal team also serves as a mentor for the 1L Summer Associate, during their summer and beyond.

Opportunities are available for students interested in working in our Litigation, Corporate, and Intellectual Property sections. Students select their practice area of preference and are immersed in the section during the summer. 

The 1L program is offered exclusively out of our Boston office. Students that return as 2Ls or as First Year Associates have opportunity to explore other Mintz office locations. 

Program Details & Benefits

• Fellows will be fully integrated into Mintz’s 9-week summer program and compensated at Mintz’s standard summer associate salary
• Fellows with be paired with a client of the firm for one-three weeks to gain exposure to a client in-house legal team
• 1L Fellows will have opportunity to participate in programming put on by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
• Each 1L Diversity Fellow is eligible to receive a return offer to Mintz for their 2L summer and then, subsequently, as a First Year Associate. Scholarship funds are available at each of these junctures totaling up to $30,000.
• Fellows that return as 2Ls will have access to a DE&I programming series about succeeding as a First Year Associate 

The application for the Richard Mintz Diversity Fellowship for 1L Summer Associates is open.  Please apply here.

2L Summer Associate Program

Mintz hires 2L students who seek a highly personalized summer experience for our Summer Associate program. Our Summer Associates select a practice area of interest (Corporate, Litigation, or Intellectual Property) and are immersed in that practice area for the duration of the program.

Summer Associates work on an array of matters, often staffed on cases or deal teams, where they can gain real, hands-on experience working side by side with our lawyers. Our small class size, coupled with our Member and Associate mentorship program, allows students a broad range of opportunities and experience, customized to their individual goals and interests. After spending nine weeks at the firm, our Summer Associates know our lawyers, understand what we do, and are ready to hit the ground running after law school.

The application for the 2026 2L Summer Associate Program will open on April 1, 2025.

Vault Law: Top Ranked Summer Associate Program Mintz was ranked one of Vault’s Best Summer Associate Programs based upon feedback from junior lawyers on attorney interactions, career development, and social experiences.

3L Hiring of First Year Associates

Each year, we hire 3L students, and lawyers completing judicial clerkships, to join our incoming first year associate class. These openings may be in any of our offices. Opportunities are identified by specific office and practice area, and usually become available in the late summer and early fall, the year prior. Please check our current openings for any available positions.

Recruiting Events 

We look forward to visiting the following law schools during the 2024-2025 academic year:

• Boston College Law School
• Boston University School of Law
• Columbia Law School
• Duke University School of Law
• Fordham University School of Law
• Georgetown University Law Center
• Harvard Law School
• NYU School of Law
• University of Michigan Law School
• University of Virginia School of Law

If you do not see your law school listed above, Mintz does host a variety of virtual events throughout the academic year that are open to students from law schools across the country. Please check back on this site for events and registration details or email Rachel Maltz, Legal Recruiting Specialist, at [email protected] to be added to our email distribution list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the summer program, and when does it begin?

Our summer program is usually nine weeks long and begins in late May.

Are Summer Associates expected to be in the office everyday?

Mintz Associates are expected to be in the office, in-person approximately 60% of the time.  To maximize the experience, Summer Associates are required to be in the office Monday – Thursday with the option to work virtually on Fridays.

When and how do you recommend applying?

We will be interviewing candidates and making offers on a rolling basis, so we recommend applying on our website as soon as you feel you’d be ready to make a decision about your summer plans. You can apply online early if we are doing OCI at your school, but if going through the OCI process is important to you, we recommend you wait and apply through that process.

Where are you participating in OCI this year?

We have not yet finalized our OCI schedule.  If you are interested in Mintz we highly suggest you applying directly via our websites once the application has opened.

Do I have to select an area of practice when applying?

Yes, when applying, candidates must select their area of preference (Corporate, Litigation, IP) as we hire by practice area.

I haven’t received my second semester grades or journal acceptance. Should I wait to apply?

We encourage you to apply early, even if you haven’t received your grades or know about journal membership. You can then reach out with updates to your application over the summer. Spring grades or updates to your resume can be sent to Rachel Maltz at [email protected].

To whom should I address my cover letter?

You can address your cover letter to Rachel Maltz at [email protected].

How does the assignment process work for the summer program?

Summer Associates’ work assignments are curated by attorneys in their practice area of interest (Corporate, Litigation, or Intellectual Property). Though assignments will come from a core section, there is variety in subject matter, industry, and clients. Summer Associates are encouraged to explore. The Corporate section provides the opportunity to work in venture capital & emerging companies, securities & capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and licensing & technology. The Litigation section’s work spans antitrust, appellate, class action, construction litigation, financial institution litigation, insurance & reinsurance, product liability/complex tort, real estate litigation, securities litigation, white collar defense & government investigations, and complex commercial litigation. The Intellectual Property practice has complex matters that involve analyzing patent applications on cutting-edge innovation, researching technical and legal issues in litigation, and working with the corporate and litigation teams on strategic projects in software & ecommerce, life sciences, medical technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, and for academic institutions. Summer Associates are encouraged to participate in our extensive pro bono opportunities, which include immigration, sexual violence, veterans affairs, housing, transgender discrimination, and access to justice.

How does the evaluation process work?

After an assignment is completed, the assigning attorneys evaluate the Summer Associate’s work. We strongly encourage attorneys to provide feedback directly to Summer Associates after each assignment and we encourage Summer Associates to proactively ask questions and seek feedback. Summer Associates receive formal reviews at the mid-point and at the end of the program.

What types of training sessions will I attend as a Summer Associate?

Our professional development team (MLPD) organizes many training opportunities through the summer. A sampling of the programs we host include a moot court, numerous substantive training sessions, programs on the business of a law firm and legal ethics, and a business lunch etiquette training. We also have a legal writing program that runs throughout the summer. Summer Associates are invited to attend all Associate training sessions and monthly practice group meetings, as well. MLPD hosts over 200 training programs annually, so there are many topics available to meet your interests.

After on-campus interviews, when should I expect to hear from the firm about additional interviews?

We aim to contact all candidates within a couple of days of their initial interview with information about next steps.  Subsequent interviews can happen up to several weeks following a screening interview. 

If I’m invited back for a call-back interview, what can I expect?

You will have a series of 20 to 30 minute, one-on-one interviews with both Members and Associates who are heavily involved in working with and mentoring junior attorneys in the section with which you have selected to interview. We tailor each interview schedule to the student’s interests and background.

Does Mintz allow students to split their summers?

We encourage all of our students to spend their entire summer at Mintz to get the most out of our practice immersion experience.