2L Summer Associate (IP Litigation)

Who We Are

ArentFox Schiff is an award-winning, globally recognized law firm that delivers sophisticated, innovative, and practical legal solutions to clients around the world. With more than 600 lawyers and policy professionals, ArentFox Schiff's expertise is sought out by Fortune 500s, start-ups, international governments, non-profits and trade associations, and private individuals. Our work spans highly complex, global matters as well as the deeply personal issues that shape the lives of individuals and communities.

Why Join Us

At ArentFox Schiff, we know that diverse backgrounds produce different perspectives, richer thinking, and more creative solutions to the challenges our clients face. We hope you share that vision. Join us and take on the challenge of doing meaningful work while helping us build upon a culture that reflects our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We base all of our employment decisions on merit and do not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristic.

Summer Program Description:

ArentFox Schiff LLP is accepting applications from second-year law students to join the IP Litigation Group in our San Francisco office as part of the 2027 Summer Program. We strongly encourage students with a demonstrated interest in IP litigation to apply. Summer associates will work on active matters for real clients, collaborate closely with attorneys at all levels, and gain practical experience primarily in patent litigation, but also in trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property disputes.

Examples of summer associate assignments include:

• Matter Shadowing: Summer associates may have the opportunity to follow cases through various stages of litigation by attending client calls, strategy sessions, depositions, hearings, mediations, and court proceedings. These experiences provide valuable insight into how intellectual property disputes are developed, managed, and resolved.
• Discovery and Case Development: Working alongside attorneys at all levels, summer associates may help review documents, analyze evidence, assist with discovery projects, and prepare materials related to fact and expert discovery. These assignments provide a practical understanding of how attorneys develop cases, evaluate claims and defenses, and build litigation strategies.
• IP Analysis and Litigation Strategy: Summer associates may assist with analyzing patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and related technical or business materials to support litigation strategy. These experiences provide insight into the unique challenges that arise in intellectual property disputes, and the solutions attorneys develop to address them.

• Research and Writing: Summer associates research complex legal issues and prepare a variety of written work product, including memoranda, motions, briefs, client communications, strategic recommendations, hearing materials, and other litigation-related work product. We carefully review all written work prepared by each summer associate and provide feedback from multiple sources to foster the development of their legal research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills. We have a dedicated legal writing coach on staff who works one-on-one with each of our summer associates, and she and the assigning lawyers provide feedback to foster the development of legal research, writing, and advocacy skills.

Through these experiences, summer associates gain meaningful exposure to the practice of litigation while building the skills and confidence necessary to succeed as litigators.

Candidates may apply to only one practice group. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Hiring Criteria. We look for candidates with varied backgrounds and experiences who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement; a record of leadership and achievement in school, work, and extracurricular and community activities; strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills; the ability to work independently and on a team; and the drive to gain experience and succeed in a client service business.

Applicants should have excellent research and writing skills and be committed to working in a large Washington, DC law firm following law school graduation. Prior work experience is a plus. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and must attend an ABA-accredited law school in the United States with an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2028. Please include a cover letter, resume, law school transcript and legal writing sample. You may only apply to ONE (1) Summer Associate position. If the position you are applying to is open in multiple offices, please note in your cover letter which additional offices you are in interested in, if any.

The good faith base salary range for this positionis $4,327 per week.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

ArentFox Schiff is committed to equal employment opportunity and diversity in the workplace. We base all employment decisions on merit and maintain a policy of considering all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship status, order of protection status, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, source of income, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other basis protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

* The job description is a general summary of the major duties. It may not specify all duties, tasks, and assignments associated with a job. It does not limit or in any way modify the right of management to direct, assign, and control the work of employees in a unit. Accuracy, attention to detail, ability to work effectively in a team environment, and ability to work in an atmosphere of multiple projects and shifting priorities are requirements of all jobs at ArentFox Schiff LLP. Additional job-related qualifications may be specified for some openings. Job descriptions are subject to periodic review and modification.