The Deborah J. Broyles Trailblazer Scholars Program provides an award in the amount of $20,000 and a summer associate position to two second-year law students who have demonstrated academic excellence, a commitment to diversity and inclusion and/or demonstrated that they have overcome significant adversity in their path to law school. The award is to be used to defray necessary expenditures related to the recipient’s legal education and will be paid in addition to the summer associate salary.

About Deborah Broyles

Our Trailblazer Scholars Program began in 2002. In 2016, we renamed the program to honor late partner Deborah Broyles, who was our firm’s Director of Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She was known for her legal work and community activism. Deborah was a trailblazer in diversity efforts in the legal profession, and her contributions to promoting diversity in the profession
and throughout the United States were significant and transformative.

Eligibility criteria

All Summer Associate applicants will be considered for this award and must:

• Meet the same high academic standard applied to all summer associate candidates
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrate they have overcome significant adversity in their path to law school
• Accept Reed Smith’s offer to join the Summer Program following the completion of their second year of law school
• Be matriculated at an ABA-accredited law school
• Be authorized to work in the United States

To apply, please complete an online application.

You will need:

• Resume
• A statement demonstrating why you should be selected and a statement demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrating you have overcome significant adversity in your path to law school, which can serve as a cover letter
• Law school transcript (unofficial versions are acceptable)
• Legal writing sample

The Intellectual Property Practice of Reed Smith LLP is currently seeking exceptional 2L candidates to join the firm's 2025 Summer Associate Program in our Chicago, Houston, or San Francisco offices.

We value collegiality and diversity among our lawyers and seek to make the practice both professionally and personally rewarding. Our program is designed to provide summer associates with a realistic snapshot of associate life within our firm. Reed Smith summer associates will have an opportunity to take on client projects in all of the practice areas that interest them. They will have the support of partner and associate mentors, as well as the guidance of writing instructors who will help them hone their analytical and persuasive writing skills. Reed Smith University Summer Academy courses will supplement on-the-job training by covering development topics like cost-effective research methods and the business structure of today's law firm. A myriad of social activities will serve as another terrific avenue to get to know future colleagues and summer associate classmates. Reed Smith offers a competitive salary and benefits. Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants for our intellectual property group will have an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in one of the following areas: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biological Sciences, or Chemistry.

We look for individuals with strong academic credentials, diverse backgrounds, and varied experiences. The ideal applicant will have a degree in electrical engineering or computer science. Experience in patent litigation would be preferred. Participation in law school activities (law review, moot court, etc.), strength of character, outstanding personal skills, demonstrated leadership and teamwork, a hunger for self-development, intellectual curiosity and a good sense of humor are must haves. Students who have applied energy towards building their skill set above and beyond the classroom are standouts for us. We also value community contributions, work experience and demonstrated initiative.

To apply, please complete an online application:

• Chicago application
• Houston application
• San Francisco application

Required materials:

• Current resume
• Cover letter
• Law school transcript (unofficial versions are acceptable)
• Legal writing sample

The Reed Smith/BNY Mellon Fellowship Program provides an award in the amount of $5,000 and a 2025 summer associate position to a second-year law student who has demonstrated strong academic scholarship, dedication to community service and/or leadership, and an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The successful candidate will spend the first six weeks of the summer associate program in Reed Smith’s New York office and will spend the remaining four weeks in the legal department at BNY Mellon’s New York office. The $5,000 will be awarded at the conclusion of the summer program and will be paid in addition to the summer associate salary. The application deadline for this fellowship is July 31, 2024.

To apply, please complete an online application.

You will need:

• Resume
• A statement demonstrating why you should be selected and a statement demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrating you have overcome significant adversity in your path to law school, which can serve as a cover letter
• Law school transcript (unofficial versions are acceptable)
• Legal writing sample

Please address any questions to Jennifer Fried.

The Reed Smith/Citizens Financial Group Fellowship Program provides an award in the amount of $5,000 and a 2025 summer associate position to a second-year law student who has demonstrated strong academic scholarship, dedication to community service and/or leadership, and an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The successful candidate will spend the first six weeks of the summer associate program in Reed Smith’s New York office and will spend the remaining four weeks in the legal department at Citizens Bank’s New York office. The $5,000 will be awarded at the conclusion of the summer program and will be paid in addition to the summer associate salary. The application deadline for this fellowship is July 31, 2024.

To apply, please complete an online application.

You will need:

• Resume
• A statement demonstrating why you should be selected and a statement demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrating you have overcome significant adversity in your path to law school, which can serve as a cover letter
• Law school transcript (unofficial versions are acceptable)
• Legal writing sample

Please address any questions to Jennifer Fried.

The Reed Smith Genentech Fellowship Program provides an award in the amount of $5,000 and a 2025 summer associate position to a second-year law student who has demonstrated strong academic scholarship, dedication to community service and/or leadership, and an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The successful recipient of the Genentech Fellowship will spend the 2025 summer associate program in Reed Smith's San Francisco office and two weeks working in-house with the Genentech legal department. A $5,000 award will be awarded to the Genentech Fellow at the conclusion of the summer program in addition to the summer associate salary. The application deadline for this fellowship is July 31, 2024.

In addition to the valuable professional experience the Genentech Fellow will gain working with Reed Smith attorneys and clients, the fellow will also be exposed to a broad range of in-house experiences with one of the most innovative and accomplished healthcare companies in the world. Added benefits for the Genentech Fellow include:

• Working within a mission-based company. Genentech’s mission is to deliver scientific innovations that drive better outcomes for our people, patients, business, and communities by advancing and boldly championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Gaining valuable legal experience working with several of Genentech’s practice area groups, aligned with the fellow’s practice interests, and exposure to some of the company’s businesses and product lines.
• Attending legal practice group meetings, one-on-one sessions with the Legal Department Leadership Team, and other events on Genentech’s vibrant campus in South San Francisco.

To apply, please complete an online application.

• Resume
• A statement demonstrating why you should be selected and a statement demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrating you have overcome significant adversity in your path to law school, which can serve as a cover letter
• Law school transcript (unofficial versions are acceptable)

Please address any questions to Andrea Hunolt.

The Reed Smith 2L Managed Care Fellowship Program provides an award in the amount of $5,000 and a summer associate position to two second-year law students interested in pursuing a legal career in managed care. The second-year law students will have demonstrated academic scholarship, dedication to community service and/or leadership, and an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The successful recipients will spend the 2025 Summer Associate Program in Reed Smith’s Chicago or Los Angeles office working with our managed care attorneys across the country. Recipients will have the opportunity to spend several weeks during the summer program on secondment with our clients. The $5,000 will be awarded at the conclusion of the summer program and will be paid in addition to the summer associate salary. The application deadline for this fellowship is July 31, 2024.

To apply, please complete an online application:

Chicago application

Los Angeles application

You will need:

• Resume
• A statement demonstrating why you should be selected and a statement demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrating you have overcome significant adversity in your path to law school, which can serve as a cover letter
• Law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable)
• Legal writing sample

Please address any questions to Mia McLaughlin for Chicago or Sandra Rahimpour for Los Angeles.

The Reed Smith IKEA Fellowship provides a 2025 summer associate position and a $5,000 stipend to one law student who has demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The fellowship candidate will be recruited from Howard University School of Law. The $5,000 stipend is to be used to defray necessary expenditures related to the recipient’s legal education and will be paid in addition to the summer associate salary. The fellowship will provide the student with an opportunity to work at Reed Smith’s Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. office for the summer. The fellow will also have an opportunity to work onsite at IKEA’s North American headquarters near Philadelphia. The application deadline for this fellowship is July 31, 2024.

To apply, please complete an online application.

You will need:

• Resume
• A statement demonstrating why you should be selected and a statement demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrating you have overcome significant adversity in your path to law school, which can serve as a cover letter
• Law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable)

Please address any questions to Katie Sikon.

Reed Smith is proud to be a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). The LCLD is made up of more than 275 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners working to build a more open and diverse legal profession. Reed Smith is pleased to participate in the 1L LCLD Scholars Program, which is designed to strengthen the legal pipeline by expanding the number of opportunities for first-year law students. The program offers students the opportunity to work side-by-side with our lawyers as part of our Summer Associate Program.

In addition to that valuable professional experience our 1L LCLD Scholars will gain working with Reed Smith attorneys and clients, this program also introduces participants to the value of relationships and building networks with LCLD Members. Added benefits for 1L LCLD Scholars include:

• 2024 1L LCLD Scholars Virtual Summit, designed specifically for 1L Scholars, focusing on leadership, relationship building, and career development strategies. The summit will include sessions on personality type in the workplace, law firm mechanics, and wellness.
• 1L LCLD Scholars will have an opportunity to participate in a Resume and Interview Writing workshop as well as Virtual Mock Interviews with attorneys from LCLD Member law firms.
• Networking opportunities via a LinkedIn group dedicated to articles and discussions relevant to all 1L LCLD Scholars.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusiveness and/or demonstrated success in overcoming significant adversity in their path to law school
• Current 1L law student in good standing
• Top academic performance
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Community involvement
• Work experience

How to apply

Applications will be accepted from November 1, 2024 until January 31, 2025. To apply, please visit our Careers Website and complete an online application.

You will need:

• Current resume
• Cover letter
• A statement discussing commitment to diversity and inclusion and/or how you overcame significant adversity in the path to law school
• Undergraduate and law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable)
• Legal writing sample

You may submit your application prior to obtaining your first semester law transcript, but please note that applications will not be considered complete until your law transcript is received. Interviews will take place after first semester grades are released.

Your cover letter, in addition to briefly summarizing your professional background, should include information pertaining to your reasons for applying to Reed Smith and your connections to the location for which you are applying.

Your statement, which should be no more than one page, should elaborate on how your unique life experiences have contributed to your personal and professional growth as well as your reasons for pursuing a career in law.