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1L Summer Scholar Program

Pillsbury 1L Summer Scholar Program

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is proud to offer the 2026 1L Summer Scholar Program, a paid summer clerkship opportunity designed to provide exceptional first-year law students with hands-on legal experience, professional development, and exposure to our collaborative firm culture.

As part of this program, selected Scholars will participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars Program, which provides additional opportunities to build leadership and practical legal skills alongside peers across the country.

1L Summer Scholars work closely with attorneys and professional staff in one of Pillsbury’s U.S. offices. Those who receive and accept an offer to return as a 2L summer associate will receive a $15,000 stipend to help defray law school costs. Scholars who successfully complete their 2L summer and accept an offer to join the firm as a first-year associate in the office where they previously summered will receive an additional $25,000 stipend upon joining the firm.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning November 1, 2025, until positions are filled.

To apply, please visit 2026 Pillsbury 1L Summer Scholar Program

If you require an accommodation or assistance in completing the online application process, please contact Rohonda Williams at pillsbury1lscholars@pillsburylaw.com.

I. Eligibility

1L law students are encouraged to apply who:

  1. Are enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school with an expected graduation date of Spring 2028.
  2. Demonstrate strong analytical abilities, leadership potential, and a clear commitment to collaboration and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
  3. Are U.S. citizens or otherwise authorized to work in the United States.
  4. Are expected to join Pillsbury as a first-year associate in the office where they completed their summer program.
  5. Must not receive a financial scholarship or fellowship from another law firm between January 1 and August 31 of the year you are employed with Pillsbury.

II. Selection Criteria

1L Summer Scholar recipients will be selected based on a combination of the following factors:

  1. Strength of the applicant’s personal statement.
  2. Strong undergraduate and law school academic performance.
  3. Demonstrated leadership, initiative, and engagement beyond academic and professional settings.
  4. Effective oral and written communication skills.
  5. Desire and commitment to excel as a lawyer in a large, private firm practice environment.

III. Application Requirements

To apply, applicants must submit:

  1. A completed 1L Summer Scholar application.
  2. A cover letter identifying the office(s) to which you are applying.
  3. A current resume.
  4. Official undergraduate and law school transcripts (once available).
  5. Personal statement (prompt below).

Personal Statement Prompt:

Using specific examples, share a time when you helped foster collaboration, inclusion, or mutual understanding within a group or community. What motivated you to act, how did you navigate challenges, and what did you learn that you would bring to a professional legal environment?

In evaluating your personal statement, Pillsbury will consider both its substance and the quality of your written work product.

Opportunity & Engagement at Pillsbury

Pillsbury is committed to developing talent equitably and holistically. Our firm’s strategic plan includes a combination of internal and external initiatives focused on, among other things, enhancing the experience of our attorney population, increasing our retention and promotion rates, and identifying and expanding opportunities for all attorneys to reach their full potential. The firmwide Opportunity & Engagement team collaborates across departments to assist in the development and implementation of comprehensive programs and initiatives that reflect the firm’s 360-degree commitment to its attorneys’ professional development.

Pillsbury is devoted to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. The firm has local Opportunity & Engagement representatives, and seven employee resource groups focused on education, community and collaboration.

The firm’s external initiatives are focused on a number of different efforts, including pipeline programs to provide mentoring for high school and college students while exposing them to legal careers, enhancing our visibility on law school campuses, and educating students on Pillsbury’s culture.