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. Please click here to learn more about AMIF and our partnership with John Hancock.

One goal of the program is to provide opportunity and mentorship to students of all backgrounds who are the first person in their families to attend law school.

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 demonstrated commitment to promoting and advocating for civil rights and inclusion within your local community and more broadly. “Inclusion” means the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of individuals of all backgrounds.
Being the first person in a family to attend law school.
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. The application period will close on January 31, 2026. 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
Family or personal adversity
Multiple language skills
First-generation 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.

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 striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Equal Employment Opportunity:
The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person's race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm's policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.