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1L recruiting

BigLaw 1L programs, 2027

Every firm in our directory and what it offers first-year students: 1L summer seats, 1L fellowships, and the 2028 summer programs that take 1L applications now. Dates come from each firm’s own page or application system.

  • 48firms hire 1Ls
  • 10more run a 1L fellowship
  • 191L applications open now

Last refreshed Oct 5, 2026, plus a nightly check of firms’ public application systems.

How 1L recruiting works

1L summer seats are few

Most firms hire most of their class as 2Ls. The firms below that hire 1Ls usually run small classes, a fellowship, or a two-summer offer (1L and 2L).

You apply for 2L now

Many firms open their 2028 summer program to 1Ls between October and January. Applying early, once grades are allowed, is normal.

Check your school's rules

Some schools limit when 1Ls can apply or interview. Confirm your career office's policy before you send applications.

Open to 1Ls now

Opening next

Hire 1Ls for the summer (48)

A 1L summer associate position, often paired with a 2L offer for the following summer.

1L fellowships and scholarships (10)

Usually a paid 1L summer plus an award, open to every 1L or tied to a stated mission.

1L events, no 1L summer listed (3)

Open houses, conferences and webinars. A good way to meet the firm before you apply for 2L.

  • Milbank LLP

    Vault #9

    1L eventsMeets 1L students through on-campus, in-office and virtual events; recruits for its Summer Program at 30+ schools.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerOpens Nov 1, 2026Firm page

  • Jones Day

    Vault #26

    1L eventsLists 1L events for first-year students.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerLast opened Oct 27, 2025Firm page

  • Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

    Vault #77

    1L eventsDevelopMINTZ 1L professional development conference and the Afro Scholars Retreat for Black first-year students.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerOpen since Oct 1Closes Dec 11, 2026Apply

No 1L summer program listed (49)

The firm's own page lists no 1L summer program. Today's 1Ls still apply here: the 2L summer recruits them.

  • Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

    Vault #1

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerOpens Jan 4, 2027Firm page

  • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

    Vault #2

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerOpens Dec 1, 2026Firm page

  • Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

    Vault #5

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerLast opened Nov 1, 2025Firm page

  • Williams & Connolly LLP

    Vault #17

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerExpected Late fall 2026Firm page

  • White & Case LLP

    Vault #18

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerOpens Nov 1, 2026Firm page

  • Ropes & Gray LLP

    Vault #20

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerExpected Fall 2026Firm page

  • Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

    Vault #23

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerExpected Early November 2026Firm page

  • Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP

    Vault #24

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.

    2028 summerExpected Early January 2027Firm page

  • Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

    Vault #25

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerExpected Early November 2026Firm page

  • Goodwin Procter LLP

    Vault #31

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

    Vault #32

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerExpected Early December 2026Firm page

  • Winston Taylor LLP

    Vault #39

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerLate October to early November 2026Firm page

  • Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

    Vault #40

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerExpected Early November 2026Firm page

  • Clifford Chance US LLP

    Vault #41

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.

    2028 summerExpected Fall 2026 (firm stated)Firm page

  • Jenner & Block LLP

    Vault #43

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

    Vault #47

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerExpected Mid-December 2026Firm page

  • Holland & Knight LLP

    Vault #48

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    Application page
  • Freshfields US LLP

    Vault #50

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Dechert LLP

    Vault #51

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.

    2028 summerExpected Late October to November 2026Firm page

  • Linklaters LLP

    Vault #52

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    Application page
  • Baker Botts L.L.P.

    Vault #54

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Greenberg Traurig, LLP

    Vault #55

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • A&O Shearman LLP

    Vault #56

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    Application page
  • Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

    Vault #57

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Boies Schiller Flexner LLP

    Vault #61

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • McGuireWoods LLP

    Vault #68

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    Application page
  • Venable LLP

    Vault #69

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C.

    Vault #70

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Fenwick & West LLP

    Vault #71

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerOpens Nov 1, 2026Firm page

  • Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP

    Vault #73

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerOpens Oct 15, 2026Firm page

  • Nixon Peabody LLP

    Vault #75

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Fox Rothschild LLP

    Vault #76

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • ArentFox Schiff LLP

    Vault #80

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerLast opened Sep 28, 2026Firm page

  • Gunderson Dettmer LLP

    Vault #83

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Polsinelli PC

    Vault #87

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Seyfarth Shaw LLP

    Vault #89

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Blank Rome LLP

    Vault #91

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Duane Morris LLP

    Vault #94

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Akerman LLP

    Vault #95

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026

  • Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP

    Vault #98

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Littler Mendelson P.C.

    Vault #100

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026

  • Barnes & Thornburg LLP

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    Application page
  • Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Jackson Lewis P.C.

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026

  • Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

  • Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

    No 1L summer program on the firm’s page. Today’s 1Ls (Class of 2029) apply for the 2L Summer 2028.Checked Sep 27, 2026 · source

    2028 summerDate not postedFirm page

Something wrong or missing? Every firm row links to the firm’s own page; confirm dates there. See the full job board for 2L and 3L openings, or summer programs by opening date and city.