2027 Summer Associate Program

Summer Associate Program

At Woods Oviatt Gilman, we are passionate about empowering and mentoring the next generation of attorneys. Our Summer Associate Program continues to be the firm's fundamental method of growth and development of new attorneys. Many of our most senior partners began their legal careers as Summer Associates, attributing their success in no small part to the solid foundation established through our Summer Associate Program.

We avoid purely academic pursuits, such as writing articles or researching esoteric issues that have no relationship to client work. Our goal is to mirror as closely as possible the experience of being an associate of the firm. By treating you like an actual associate, including experiencing the challenges and responsibilities that all attorneys face, you can begin to understand what it is like to be part of the Woods Oviatt team.

To ensure our Summer Associates receive meaningful guidance and feedback throughout the summer, we've established a tiered mentorship structure. Our two Summer Associate Program Coordinators serve as the primary points of contact for you and hold weekly status meetings to discuss projects and monitor workloads.

Each practice group rotation also has a Department Mentor specifically designated to answer questions and provide guidance on substantive matters within their practice area. These Department Mentors are associates who have been through the Summer Associate Program and can provide practical and relatable advice based on their own experiences.

Although the Summer Associate Program is a true working internship, we don't limit it to work. You can also expect many fun social events and outings throughout the summer, including baseball games, pedal tours, Friday lunches, happy hours, and finding our attorneys outside the workplace and experience what Western New York has to offer as a place to live.

By the Program's conclusion, the wide spectrum of projects and the numerous interactions with attorneys will give you a full understanding of the firm's culture upon graduation.

To apply for a summer associate position for summer 2027, please mail or email a cover letter, resume, transcripts, and writing sample through your program's OCI online platform, or to Nicholas Pasquarella, Legal Recruiter.

Because we treat you like a true associate, your pay reflects that as well. Summer Associates are paid at our first-year attorney base salary, currently set at $120,000 per year, which comes out to $4,615.38 bi-weekly before taxes.