Closing Date: 1st June, 2026
Description:
Godfrey & Kahn, a business law firm with nearly 200 attorneys, is recruiting 2L students (JD 2028) to join our 2027 Summer Associate Program.We've designed our program to give you a real sense of what it will be like to begin your legal career as an associate at Godfrey & Kahn, so that—when you do—you're ready to hit the ground running. We do this in three ways.
First, we give summer associates meaningful assignments. The work you will do is part of Godfrey & Kahn's broader philosophy: judging our success by the success of our clients. Our associate attorneys don't do busy work—so we don't want you to, either. We strive to assign you projects we're handling for our actual clients, including pro bono matters like landlord/tenant disputes and civil rights cases. We expect to incorporate your work into our final product. That is possible only when we give you the types of substantive opportunities we are also giving our associates.
Second, we help you find your area of practice. Typically, your assignments will come from across the firm's practice areas so that you understand the type of work our attorneys do for our clients. Once you've identified practice areas that interest you, we work to help you dive in deeper, giving you more work and more personal interactions with the teams.
Third, we mentor you. A good summer associate program doesn't end when you start your 3L year; it's the starting line for your career as an attorney. You will learn lessons about practice that you will use for the rest of your career and meet people you will know for the rest of your life. That is why it is important for you to interact and build professional relationships with our attorneys and staff. From one-on-one coffees and lunches with attorneys from across the firm, to the day-to-day feedback and written evaluations from the attorneys you work with, you will learn about the different teams and their members through “101” lunches and evening social events. And, guiding you through this process will be two attorneys assigned to you, personally. We hope that, when you join us as an attorney, you'll know people across the firm and start your job with some of the wisdom they've passed down to you.
Our summer associate program has a demonstrated record of success and is our most important tool for hiring new associates. At the end, you'll have gained substantive legal experience and a realistic view of whether a career at Godfrey & Kahn is right for you. We're proud of our summer associates, who go on to become successful attorneys—most of them at Godfrey & Kahn.
We are currently accepting 2L (JD 2028) applications for our 2027 Summer Associate Program with opportunities in our Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton and Eau Claire, Wisconsin offices. Students with a demonstrated interest in practicing at a business-focused law firm—such as those with an undergraduate business degree or prior work experience—are encouraged to apply.
Please submit a cover letter stating office location of interest and practice group interests (if known); resume; undergraduate transcript; and unofficial law school transcript.