Boston L Power of Partnership Summer Associate

Position: 2026 Boston 1L Power of Partnership Summer Associate
Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

K&L Gates is looking forward to hosting our 2026 1L Power of Partnership Program in Boston.

Program Description

K&L Gates created the Power of Partnership Program in 2018 to offer outstanding learning experiences for law students while also increasing engagement with our clients. This program offers selected 1L students the unique opportunity to work for part of the summer in a K&L Gates office as a summer associate and part of the summer in-house with the legal team of a corporate client of the firm.

For summer 2026, the Boston office will be partnering with John Hancock, a client of our Asset Management & Investment Funds (AMIF) practice.

The program aims to offer opportunities and mentorship to students from a variety of different backgrounds including consideration for first-generation college or law students.

In addition to a paid 1L summer associate position, our 2026 Power of Partnership Program participants will be eligible to earn an academic bonus of up to $50,000.

If earned, the academic bonus will be paid in three installments (less applicable deductions):

• A $10,000 payment upon the successful completion of the full K&L Gates 2026 Summer Program
• A $20,000 payment if you spend a minimum of eight weeks with the firm during the 2027 Summer Program, do not spend time working for another law firm during the summer, and receive and accept an offer of full-time employment with K&L Gates
• A $20,000 payment upon joining K&L Gates as a full-time first year associate; this payment will be included in your first paycheck

Selection Criteria

When considering candidates, we will look at the following criteria:

• A proven dedication to advancing civil rights and fostering inclusion within your local community, educational institutions, and beyond. "Inclusion" means the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of individuals of all backgrounds.
• A strong interest in gaining hands-on experience in the Asset Management and Investment Funds industry from both law firm and in-house perspective. A background in finance or investment management is not required.
• Superior academic credentials and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team, and a commitment to the highest quality of client service.

Application Process

We will review applications on a rolling basis. Please do not wait until you have received your first term law school grades to submit your application materials.

Please submit the following materials to apply for the Power of Partnership Program:

• A personal statement (500-word maximum), which can serve as your cover letter, detailing why the Power of Partnership Program is of interest to you and how you have demonstrated a commitment to promoting civil rights and inclusion in your school, workplace, and/or community. For example, you may wish to discuss factors such as:
  • Socioeconomic disadvantage
  • Perseverance and overcoming obstacles, including those faced by underrepresented communities
  • Efforts to encourage your community or educational institutes to be inclusive, including your own personal contributions to being inclusive
  • Family or personal adversity
  • Multiple language skills
  • First-generation college or law school attendance
  • Leadership potential
  • Impacts of prejudice or discrimination
  • Efforts to promote civil rights or access to courts and benefits
  • Experience with social hardship
  • Unique perspectives and experiences
• Resume or CV
• Undergraduate transcript (unofficial transcripts will be accepted)
• Graduate program transcripts (if applicable)
• A law school transcript (A link will be provided to update your transcript after the receipt of grades)

Additional Consideration

• While not required, if you have a personal connection to Boston, please include this information in your personal statement as well.

Pay rates for summer associates are prorated based on K&L Gates' first year associate salary and in 2025 these were $4,326.92 for Boston AMIF associates. The K&L Gates Management Committee will determine the 2026 summer associate salary rate prior to the summer program start date and this rate could vary by office based on factors, including but not limited to market factors and geographic location.

K&L Gates is an equal opportunity employer that does not exclude anyone from consideration for this program based on race, gender, or any other protected class. Preferences or quotas based on protected class are strictly prohibited. #LI-KH1

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly…