Law Students

Summer associates learn first-hand that their work can make a difference.

We see summer associates as our future partners, so our summer program is designed to give law students a taste of what practicing law at Chapman is really like. As a Chapman summer associate, you will be directly involved in the business of the firm doing work that really matters – you work on deal teams, interact with clients, and perform important research. 

Because we think of our summer associates as investments in our own future, we help them explore a career path that would be a good fit. If you come to Chapman with ideas about where you want your future practice to go, we can provide an experience to get you started. If you don’t yet know what you want your practice to be, we can introduce you to a broad array of practice areas and mentors to help you discover your niche. We also introduce you to myriad pro bono opportunities and other ways to give back to the community.

We want the people we train to stay with us. Our culture provides a meaningful and fulfilling platform for a long-term career. We cultivate an innovation mindset by encouraging and supporting intellectual curiosity and new ideas. And we look for future partners who can find purpose in the challenge of helping our clients develop products, pursue opportunities, manage risks, and resolve disputes.

What to Expect

• Hands-on mentorship
• Feedback on each project you complete
• Two formal review sessions
• Ongoing practice area and career trajectory advice
• Training in client-facing skills, such as business communication, legal writing, legal technology platforms, and negotiation skills
• Relationship-building with Chapman partners and clients
• A long-term career