Inclusive Leaders Fellowship
The Ashurst Perkins Coie Inclusive Leaders Fellowship is both an honor and a commitment - a mutual investment between the firm and a select group of future leaders dedicated to shaping an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.
This highly selective program is open to first-year law students who are interested in serving as Inclusive Leaders Fellows for both the Summer of 2026 and the Summer of 2027. This two-summer opportunity identifies and develops individuals who exemplify inclusive leadership skills by demonstrating courage, curiosity, cultural intelligence, collaboration, and a deep commitment to valuing all voices.
Open to all students, the Fellowship reflects our belief that excellence depends on inclusion and our ability to leverage different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Fellows are chosen for how they lead by modeling and strengthening cultures of inclusion and collaboration.
Program overview
- Fellows will participate in dedicated programming designed to deepen the skills and perspectives needed to lead inclusively within the firm and the profession; the Fellowship culminates with a Capstone project.
- Fellows spend two summers at Ashurst Perkins Coie- 10 weeks after their 1L year and another 10 weeks after their 2L year - gaining hands-on experience and a deep connection to the firm.
- Upon satisfactory completion of each 10-week summer program, Fellows will receive a $20,000 stipend, in addition to their summer associate salary.
- Fellows who are granted and accept an offer to join Ashurst Perkins Coie as an associate after law school graduation will receive an additional $10,000 stipend upon their return to the firm as an associate.
The Inclusive Leaders Fellowship reflects our long-term investment in cultivating a strong and connected firm culture. Fellows are invited to make a reciprocal investment - bringing the same spirit of inclusion, collaboration, and leadership they’ve demonstrated in their academic, campus, and community endeavors to their work at the firm. Together, this small, distinguished cohort helps influence the next generation of firm leadership and ensures that Ashurst Perkins Coie remains a place where people thrive because of their different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Summer "Trackers"
"Trackers" are lawyers who coordinate work assignments and monitor the type, quality, and amount of work assigned to each summer associate. Summer associates are also encouraged to seek out assignments directly from senior associates and partners.
Supervising lawyers provide informal feedback to summer associates after each assignment and submit written formal evaluations to the office hiring committee. These evaluations become part of each summer associate's midsummer and final evaluations.
The application process
All first-year students in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school are encouraged to apply for the Inclusive Leaders Fellowship. Ashurst Perkins Coie is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, or any other identity.
In addition to the materials provided as part of your employment application for our Summer Associate program, a complete application for the Inclusive Leaders Fellowship Program must include a one-page personal statement (see guidance below).
Your personal statement is an opportunity to articulate how you think, lead, and contribute to the communities around you. We evaluate applications holistically, with particular attention to how candidates reflect the mindsets and behaviors of inclusive leadership. Please read more about inclusive leadership.
We encourage you to share experiences that demonstrate the following qualities:
- Commitment: Examples of your commitment to inclusion, diversity, and opportunity for all; ways these objectives align with your personal values.
- Courage: How you’ve spoken up, challenged bias, or taken action to advance inclusion – even when it required risk or discomfort.
- Cognizance of Bias: Ways you are mindful of personal and organizational blind spots; ways you self-regulate to support fairness.
- Curiosity: Examples of times when you sought out new perspectives, learned from differences, or showed openness to experiences that expanded your understanding.
- Cultural Intelligence: How you’ve built relationships or worked effectively across lines of differences whether cultural, experiential, or ideological.
- Collaboration: How you empower individuals and leverage the thinking of those from a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.
You do not need to address every quality explicitly, but your statement should illustrate how you approach leadership in inclusive, thoughtful, and collaborative ways– and how you hope to continue developing these skills as part of the Ashurst Perkins Coie community.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning December 1, 2025. Early applications are encouraged. All materials must be uploaded in PDF format. If first-semester grades are not yet available, please submit all other materials and provide your transcript once grades are released. Candidates can expect updates on their status by late January 2026.
What we can offer you
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Career development and training
Read moreCareer development and training
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. -
Global focus
Read moreGlobal focus
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. -
Pro Bono
Read morePro Bono
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.
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Globally recognized expertise and culture
Read moreGlobally recognized expertise and culture
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).
Benefits and wellbeing
We strive to create a workplace in which our people receive the resources they need to excel in their work and their everyday lives. That's why we offer a competitive remuneration and benefits package, including health and well-being, family, financial, and lifestyle benefits.
We are a global firm, and as such our benefits may differ according to office location. We effectively support the needs our people while taking into account their location. For specific details of benefits, please visit our Applicant Resource Hub.
Anchorage
Allie Erstad she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, AErstad@perkinscoie.com
Austin
Deidre Sparks she/her/hers
Senior Legal Recruiting Manager, DSparks@perkinscoie.com
Bellevue
Allie Erstad she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, AErstad@perkinscoie.com
Boise
Allie Erstad she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, AErstad@perkinscoie.com
Chicago
Sarah Hayden she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, SHayden@perkinscoie.com
Dallas
Deidre Sparks she/her/hers
Senior Legal Recruiting Manager, DSparks@perkinscoie.com
Denver
Michelle Morris she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, MichelleMorris@perkinscoie.com
Los Angeles
Michelle Morris she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, MichelleMorris@perkinscoie.com
Madison
Sarah Hayden she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, SHayden@perkinscoie.com
New York
Sarah Hayden she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, SHayden@perkinscoie.com
Palo Alto
Deidre Sparks she/her/hers
Senior Legal Recruiting Manager, DSparks@perkinscoie.com
Phoenix
Michelle Morris she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, MichelleMorris@perkinscoie.com
Portland
Allie Erstad she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, AErstad@perkinscoie.com
San Diego
Michelle Morris she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, MichelleMorris@perkinscoie.com
San Francisco
Deidre Sparks she/her/hers
Senior Legal Recruiting Manager, DSparks@perkinscoie.com
Seattle
Allie Erstad she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, AErstad@perkinscoie.com
Washington, D.C.
Sarah Hayden she/her/hers
Legal Recruiting Manager, SHayden@perkinscoie.com
Applicant Resource Hub
For answers to all of your FAQs and information on application and interview tips, the benefits we provide, life at Ashurst Perkins Coie, our L&D programs and our commitments to diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.
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Diversity, Inclusion & Opportunity
We have deep and enduring commitments to diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.
Discover moreAgencies
Agency submissions and candidate introductions will only be accepted with prior approval from a member of the Ashurst Perkins Coie Talent Acquisition team. To submit or introduce a candidate, an agency must have valid agreed terms of business in place with Ashurst Perkins Coie. Any agency submissions or candidate introductions made without prior approval or without the agreed terms of business in place will be considered invalid.