US - 1L Summer Associate

We are committed to providing you with continued learning and development opportunities so you can perform to your best and thrive in your career.

Through formal and self-driven learning options, in both face-to-face and virtual settings, you will be encouraged and empowered to build on your existing knowledge and experience. Our award-winning learning programs provides a range of courses, tailored for each stage of your career, that focus on developing your technical, commercial and soft skills to assist you in enhancing your capability and/or becoming a leader.

You will also have access to on-the-job training and financial study support (as approved by your manager) to assist you in further developing your technical and commercial skills with external qualifications.

For more information on our L&D programs please visit the Applicant Resource Hub.

We want to provide opportunities for everyone to grow and develop their careers and have the opportunity to work globally in some capacity.

We are creating a globally integrated firm built to meet the needs of clients facing an increasingly complex world. You will have the opportunity to work together with global colleagues on matters, projects, day-to-day work, or defining and implementing global strategy. You might also have an opportunity to work overseas, so we do what we can to provide temporary secondments and permanent relocations to one of our offices.

We are committed to providing career development for our people throughout our network, and by taking a consistent and coordinated approach to global mobility we can provide you with new opportunities to develop your skills and career. Enabling cross-border working opportunities for our people is also a key part of our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

For more information on our global reach please view our People & Locations tab.

Our commitment to community spans more than 200 years.

We have a long history of giving back and helping those in need, building a more inclusive society, and providing equal access to justice.

We work for systemic change in our legal system and for meaningful change in the lives of individuals by helping our clients overcome obstacles that appear insurmountable. We hold our pro bono work to the same high standards of quality, service, and care as any other client, and our efforts drive tangible outcomes that make a real difference.

Impact of Pro Bono at Ashurst Perkins Coie

We represent hundreds of pro bono clients annually. Every day, we partner with nonprofit and community-based organizations to advocate for people who are internally displaced, stateless, seeking asylum or have refugee status; champion human and civil rights; and fight for housing, education, food, benefits, and economic justice for individuals in our communities. We actively encourage all lawyers to engage in pro bono practice and provide the same level of value and support for pro bono work as we do for any other client matter.

Our pro bono program is highly regarded in the legal community for its dedication to providing legal assistance to people and organizations with limited resources in our local communities. We regularly tackle complex cases that affect the most vulnerable clients and address wider systemic issues.

Through our pro bono work, we continue to amplify our clients' stories, change lives, and transform communities.

Fellowships and secondments

In the US, we have established a Racial Justice Fellowship, which offers current first- and second-year associates the opportunity to spend six months working with civil rights or criminal justice organizations that promote racial equity.

“The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Ashurst Perkins Coie allowed me to immediately experience the reach and impact my law degree and license could bring. To help the communities that I care about on fundamental principles of education is an experience that I will cherish forever.” - Former Racial Justice Fellow

There is a separate program for pro bono part-time and full-time secondments available to existing Ashurst Perkins Coie lawyers, ranging from a few weeks to six months in duration, in multiple countries.

We aim to provide the best environment for you to work in and develop your career.

Our technical expertise and culture have been locally and globally recognized for decades. This gives you the opportunity to work with some of the best lawyers in the world, have access to market leading legal technology, and a diverse and inclusive culture. Some of our recognition includes:

• 4th highest number of Chambers-ranked lawyers worldwide.
• 9th highest number of Chambers-ranked practices worldwide.
• Most Innovative Law Firm in APAC (FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024, 2025).
• In the US we have been listed in the Vault Top 100 for 15 consecutive years, moving up again this year.
• In the US we have been named among the "100 Best Companies to Work For" for 24 consecutive years by Fortune (2003-2026).