Portland, Maine

Bernstein Shur, a New England-based law firm that advises clients across the U.S. and around the world, is seeking 2L students with an excellent academic record, exceptional writing ability, strong analytical skills, maturity, diverse experiences, demonstrated self-confidence, and a drive to succeed. As a firm, we share a commitment to finding and growing top legal talent. Our 12-week summer associate program, with its nine-week in-firm rotation and three-week (paid) pro bono fellowship, gives high-achieving law students an opportunity to work side-by-side with our attorneys, begin to develop their legal skills, and gain insight into what their post-graduation careers could look like.

As a summer associate, you’ll rotate through four of the firm’s practice groups and become an integral part of real-life client matters. You will do research and writing projects related to real issues that face our clients in real time. Each summer associate will work with our workflow coordinators, who are responsible for making sure that your assignments are engaging and designed to contribute to your professional development. Among other things, you may observe or assist with:

• Transactional Closings
• Trials
• Mediations and arbitrations
• Hearings
• Depositions
• Negotiations
• Client meetings

Thoughtful, constructive feedback is an integral part of career growth—so we provide a lot of it. As a summer associate, you’ll receive direct feedback from the attorneys who generate assignments, and you’ll also receive substantive one-on-one feedback on your writing at the mid-way point of the in-firm portion of the program and fulsome feedback at the end of the full 12-week program.

We take pride in our community roots and seek out attorneys who are socially engaged and civic-minded. We’ve made a commitment to inspire up-and-coming attorneys to incorporate regular pro bono work into their practices. The Bernstein Shur Pro Bono Fellowship provides three weeks of working in-house with a legal-service provider based on the student’s preference. The program, which is the only of its kind in New England, was created to enhance our summer associate program and expand our pro bono work in the community. At Bernstein Shur, pro bono work is about more than civic responsibility or a sense of duty. It is a way of life and a fundamental part of the firm’s culture.

To apply please send a cover letter, resume, law transcript and writing sample to attorneyrecruiting@bernsteinshur.com

ABOUT BERNSTEIN SHUR

Our 100+ award-winning attorneys and professionals are driven and deliver results on behalf of our clients, while striving to achieve the highest level of professional excellence. Our office culture is collaborative, authentic, and respectful. We have exceptionally high standards for everything we do, and we’re looking for energetic candidates who are ready to take on a new challenge. In 2023, Bernstein Shur was named one of Maine’s Best Places to Work for the twelfth time. It’s a reflection of our values and firm-wide commitment to create a culture that believes in diversity, flexibility, and family-friendly policies. Simply put, we seek to do great work—and have great lives.

Bernstein Shur is an equal opportunity employer.