Summer Associate Application Requirements by Firm
BigLaw Bear has read the application pages of 145 firms. Of the firms with a known answer, 95 of 102 require a cover letter, 54 of 60 a writing sample, 131 of 134 a law school transcript and 58 of 61 an undergraduate transcript. Not recorded means we have not read that item on the firm's page, not that the firm skips it. Latest check Nov 13, 2026.
| Firm | Cover Letter | Writing Sample | Law Transcript | Undergrad Transcript | References | Other | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Optional | Not recorded | Submit available law grades or transcripts; undergraduate transcripts and LSAT scores are optional. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Optional | Not recorded | Online application form, cover letter, resume and law school academic record. Undergraduate transcript is required for the IP Litigation Program only. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| DLA Piper LLP (US) | Not recorded | Optional | Optional | Not recorded | Not recorded | Grades and writing sample can be sent later once finalized. The firm evaluates the writing sample in interviews. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Dallas 2028 form: resume also required. Complete contact, law school, employment, application questions, work authorization, consent and practice interest sections. May apply before grades; upload complete first-semester law transcript when available, before offers. Office forms may differ. | Firm page | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Resume and undergraduate transcript; fall grades to be provided later; online assessment (Suited) for U.S. offices. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Sidley Austin LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Suited assessment is required; the law transcript should be sent after fall grades are released. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | The firm uses a Suited assessment and provides instructions after materials are submitted. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Baker McKenzie LLP | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Los Angeles 2L posting asks for an unofficial undergraduate transcript. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| White & Case LLP | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Cover letter not required. Optional statement (350 words max, not a cover letter). Law transcript once available. Suited Cognitive Skills Assessment required. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP | Required | Required | Unofficial | Required | Not recorded | Materials are for IP trademark and disputes; unofficial transcripts are accepted and law grades may follow; First-Generation Fellowship candidates submit a 500-word statement. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Hogan Lovells Cadwalader | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law school transcript may be submitted post-application. Completed Suited assessment required. Cover letter should state practice area and office preference. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | The cover letter names your preferred practice department. The undergraduate transcript must be official. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Jones Day | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Cover letter should explain interest in the office location. Law transcript and writing sample when available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| McDermott Will & Schulte LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Resume required. Include any graduate transcripts. Law transcript may initially have no grades. Writing sample may be from a prior academic program. Cover letter should state practice interests and office preferences. | Firm page | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Greenberg Traurig, LLP | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | PDF cover letter, resume and 1L transcript. The New York posting covers Corporate, Litigation, IP Litigation and Real Estate. | Firm page | Nov 10, 2026 |
| Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Writing sample not required to apply; offices may request one if invited to interview. Law transcript when available. Suited assessment recommended. No email applications. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 11, 2026 | |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Suited assessment completed after applying. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Paul Hastings LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | The law transcript is required once grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| King & Spalding LLP | Optional | Optional | Required | Required | Not recorded | A statement of interest is also an optional attachment. Fellowship also asks for a writing sample. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Cooley LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Updated law school transcript requested once first-semester grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Submitted via candidate application portal. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Optional | Optional | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | 2028 New York application: resume is the only required attachment. Cover letter, writing sample and a transcript upload are optional; the form does not specify the transcript type. Check the selected office form. 1L program also asks for a cover letter. | Firm page | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Milbank LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law school transcript once available. Applicants also complete a Suited assessment. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Covington & Burling LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Send the law school transcript when it is available. Apply to each office separately. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law school transcript once available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Required | Not recorded | Apply through the Cleary Interview Program portal to either the 1L + 2L Dual Summer or the 2L Summer, not both. Unofficial transcripts are fine; add the law transcript when available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | A formal cover letter is not necessary. Writing samples and references are not required. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Resume, transcript (uncertified is fine) and the Suited assessment. Select 1L roles also ask for a personal statement. Apply to one Akin office only; send the transcript once first-semester grades are released. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law transcript must include first term grades. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Dechert LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | The cover letter should note practice area interest; a first semester law transcript completes the application. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Reed Smith LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Completed online application; update application when grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Proskauer Rose LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Optional | Not recorded | Online application; complete Suited assessment; supplement with first-semester grades when available. Optional Silver Scholar Program has a 500-word prompt answer. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Transcripts for all completed and in progress degrees must be submitted as PDFs. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Alston & Bird LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Depending on the office, you may also be asked to submit an undergraduate transcript, references and a writing sample. Writing sample should be recent work and need not be long. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Cover letter should explain interest in practicing at the firm and preferred office. Writing sample preferably 10 to 12 pages max. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | Not recorded | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Resume and law school transcript only. Send the transcript when available; offers wait for complete first-semester grades. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | New York asks applicants to identify practice interests in the cover letter and complete a Suited assessment. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| K&L Gates LLP | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Charlotte finance posting; law transcript can be updated after grades are received. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Winston Taylor LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | First semester law transcript required after grades are released. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Apply once complete first-semester transcript is available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP | Required | Required | Unofficial | Required | Not recorded | Cover letter should cover area of interest and geographic preference; writing sample max 10 pages; graduate transcripts if applicable; official law transcript once available. Personal statement only for the Inclusive Leaders Fellowship. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Applied through online application portal. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| O'Melveny & Myers LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law school transcript may be submitted later. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Vinson & Elkins LLP | Required | Not recorded | Optional | Not recorded | Not recorded | An unofficial fall transcript may be uploaded when available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Baker & Hostetler LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Also a completed application form. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Littler Mendelson P.C. | Not recorded | Not recorded | Official | Not recorded | Not recorded | Offers are extended on receipt of official transcripts (2L recruiting). | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Submit documents in PDF format. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Venable LLP | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Undergraduate transcript is listed only for IP candidates. Law transcript may be submitted later if not yet available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Fenwick & West LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law transcript may be submitted when available; scholarship applicants must also submit a personal statement. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Blank Rome LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Baker Botts L.L.P. | Required | Not recorded | Official | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial transcripts may be submitted before official transcripts are available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | The 2028 intellectual property posting asks applicants to indicate office preference in the cover letter and submit one application. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Jenner & Block LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Chicago posting requests the law transcript once first semester grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Husch Blackwell LLP | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Transcript requested in January after first-semester grades. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Haynes and Boone, LLP | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Required | Not recorded | Fall 1L semester law transcript required; unofficial transcripts are sufficient. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Nixon Peabody LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Cover letter should express a practice group interest. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Davis Wright Tremaine LLP | Required | Required | Unofficial | Required | Required | The 2027 Portland transactional and San Francisco postings require three references, accept unofficial transcripts, and request a 5-10 page writing sample. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Susman Godfrey LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Say which office you would like to work in. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Technical transcripts requested for patent roles; law transcript submitted when available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Gunderson Dettmer LLP | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Required | Not recorded | Graduate transcript required if applicable; law transcript may be submitted when available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Lowenstein Sandler | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Also a personal statement. Law transcripts when available. Entry-level and clerkship candidates submit cover letter, resume and transcripts. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Clark Hill | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Cover letter should state preferred office location and business unit. Writing sample no more than 5 pages. Law transcript must include latest term grades. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | A Suited assessment is required within three days of application. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Spencer Fane | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Law school transcripts when available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Frost Brown Todd | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Application also requires an essay. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Choate Hall & Stewart | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | First semester law transcript may be provided when grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Send resume, transcript and writing sample to the recruiting contact. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP | Required | Optional | Required | Required | Required | Complete the online application. At least one reference should be a law professor. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| McCarter & English | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Foley Hoag LLP | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Writing sample and law transcript may follow when available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Brown Rudnick | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Also a brief paragraph giving office preference and primary and secondary practice area preferences. A 1L lawyering class brief is accepted as a writing sample. Send your law transcript when available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Ice Miller | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Required | Not recorded | Submit materials in PDF format. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Fredrikson & Byron | Required | Required | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | The Fargo posting says applicants may supplement their law transcript when grades become available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | The firm requests one office application with additional office preferences selected within the application. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Epstein Becker & Green | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Washington DC litigation posting. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Hinshaw & Culbertson | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | The Dallas, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Rockford 2027 postings request an unofficial transcript without specifying its type. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Dykema Gossett | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Documents in PDF format. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Boies Schiller Flexner LLP | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | First-semester law school grades can be added to your portal application once they are available. The 1L summer posting uses the same materials. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Lathrop GPM | Required | Required | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Butler Snow | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Hughes Hubbard & Reed | Optional | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | The application form asks for an unofficial law school transcript; the cover letter upload is optional. | Firm page | Nov 8, 2026 |
| Day Pitney LLP | Required | Required | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Writing sample is two to three pages, sole author. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Fennemore Craig | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Indicate preferred office in the cover letter. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Williams Mullen | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Richmond posting specifies how to address the cover letter. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Robinson & Cole | Optional | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Brief cover letter encouraged; submit law transcript when first semester grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Miles & Stockbridge | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Cover letter should include preferred office location(s) and practice area(s) of interest. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Hanson Bridgett | Required | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Legal research memo required. Law transcript due once grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Robins Kaplan | Required | Required | Unofficial | Required | Not recorded | Minneapolis posting requires PDFs; law transcript can follow when available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Porter Wright Morris & Arthur | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Law transcript when available. Brief cover letter noting ties to preferred office location. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Altshuler Berzon | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Required | Two unedited legal writing samples. Applicants can state an office preference (San Francisco or Pasadena). | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider | Not recorded | Optional | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law school transcript is first-semester grades, submitted once finalized. Also asks for preferred practice area and office location. Undergrad GPA encouraged on resume. Writing sample 'if available'. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann | Optional | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | The application requests transcripts and accepts unofficial or official copies. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Bondurant Mixson & Elmore | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | First-year transcript to be sent once grades are released; firm will not fully consider candidates before a full year of grades. Apply through the firm's online application. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Bredhoff & Kaiser | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Required | One or two writing samples; law school transcript or other listing of grades. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Brooks Kushman | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Send cover letter and resume by email to the recruiting address. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Caplin & Drysdale | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Summer associate and law clerk applicants submit a resume and transcript. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal,. | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm will not consider applications without 1L fall semester grades. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Clifford Chance US LLP | Not recorded | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | First semester grades may be added later. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll | Required | Required | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | Completed online application also required. Official or unofficial law school transcript accepted. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| D.Law | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Writing sample of five pages or less. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Desmarais | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Apply directly with resume, law school transcript, and undergraduate transcript. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Eimer Stahl | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Email your materials to the firm's recruiting address. 1L and 2L summer applicants apply once grades are in. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Elsberg Baker & Maruri | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Law school transcript can be added once available. Apply through the firm's Flo Recruit portal. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Technical writing sample requested. Candidates should have a demonstrated interest in IP, including an undergraduate degree that qualifies them to sit for the Patent Bar. Apply by email to the HR director. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Foster Garvey | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | A reference sheet is requested along with your resume. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Freshfields US LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | A one minute video introduction is optional. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Email your materials to the recruiting contact. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Gibbs & Bruns | Not recorded | Not recorded | Unofficial | Not recorded | Not recorded | An unofficial transcript is fine. Send it with your resume to the recruiting coordinator for summer clerkship inquiries. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Email all materials to the firm's recruiting address. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Gunster | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Application portal is scheduled to open in January 2027. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | A letter of interest naming your preferred office location(s) is required. 1L applicants also send undergraduate transcripts, and law school transcripts when available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer) | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Submit resume and transcript through the online application system once your second-semester grades are available. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Holwell Shuster & Goldberg | Optional | Required | Optional | Required | Not recorded | JD transcript requested if available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Irell & Manella LLP | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Ivins, Phillips & Barker | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Transcript must show at least one semester of law school grades; the firm will not consider candidates without it. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Jeffer Mangels & Mitchell | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Summer program is in the Los Angeles office only. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C. | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | The transcript must cover the complete 1L year. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Kelly Hart & Hallman | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Send resume and law school transcript. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Klarquist Sparkman | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Graduate transcripts too if applicable. Patent firm: preferably a science or engineering degree (biotech candidates need a Ph.D.), or experience sufficient to sit for the patent bar. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Kostelanetz | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 | |
| Leydig, Voit & Mayer | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Required | Not recorded | Email undergraduate and graduate transcripts along with your resume to the firm's law careers address. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| McGinnis Lochridge | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | If your law school transcript is not available yet, submit a placeholder and supplement it later. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Some documents may not be available until January; you can submit them later. Separate applications exist for 1L and 2L summer programs. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Olshan Frome Wolosky | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Students from schools the firm does not visit send materials directly to the firm's Director of Administration. Include a copy of your law school transcript. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Send a cover letter, resume and transcript. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Parsons Behle & Latimer | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Submit everything as one PDF, with your preferred office location. An optional one-page personal statement about an ethical dilemma you faced is welcome. Applicants need unrestricted U.S. work authorization. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Patterson + Sheridan | Required | Optional | Required | Required | Not recorded | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Richards, Layton & Finger | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | You can apply before your law school transcript is available; add it when it is. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Email your materials to the recruiting address. Send 1-2 writing samples. Include your college or graduate degree transcript if applicable. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson | Optional | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law transcript and writing sample can be sent when available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Selendy Gay | Not recorded | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Law transcript may be submitted later if not yet available. | Firm page | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Shute Mihaly & Weinberger | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Required | Same list for summer clerkships and fellowships. Include three references, preferably supervising attorneys rather than professors. Add an explanation of your school's grading system. If your transcript does not show current courses, add a list of current courses. The writing sample needs a cover page saying its purpose and how much others edited it, and no law review articles. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Todd & Weld | Required | Required | Required | Not recorded | Optional | Writing sample is capped at ten pages, must be your own work, with confidential information redacted. References or recommendation letters can be added if you have them. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Warner Norcross + Judd | Not recorded | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | You can apply before first-semester grades post and update your application once your transcript is available. You can apply to more than one office. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Wilkinson Stekloff | Required | Not recorded | Required | Not recorded | Not recorded | Summer program is open to 2L and pre-clerkship 3L students and is reviewed on a rolling basis. | Firm page | Nov 4, 2026 |
Each row is read from the firm's own application page, linked in the Source column, and the Checked column shows the day we looked. Required, Optional and Not Accepted are as the firm states them. Not recorded means we have not read that item, not that the firm skips it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do law firms ask for in a summer associate application?
Among the 145 firms we have read, counting only firms with a known answer for each item: 95 of 102 require a cover letter, 54 of 60 a writing sample, 131 of 134 a law school transcript, 58 of 61 an undergraduate transcript and 7 of 8 references. A firm that does not state an item is not counted for it. Firms that require a writing sample Firms that require a cover letter
Do firms want official or unofficial transcripts?
Of 134 firms that state a law school transcript, 21 accept an unofficial copy and 2 ask for an official one. 108 more require a transcript without saying which kind and 3 make it optional. Law firm transcript requirements
Do firms ask for references?
7 of the 8 firms with a known answer require references and 1 make them optional.
What does Not Recorded mean in the table?
It means we have not read that item on the firm's application page. Not recorded is never a no. Where a firm says it does not accept an item, the cell says Not Accepted.
How is this list kept current?
Each row links to the page on the firm's own site that states it, and the Checked column shows the day we read it. The newest check was Nov 13, 2026. Firms change their application pages, so confirm on the firm's site before you apply.
Where can I see which firms are open now?
The live Job Board lists each firm's opening date and deadline, linked to the firm's own application page. Open the Job Board
Firms that require a writing sample Firms that require a cover letter Law firm transcript requirements The live Job Board The BigLaw resume guide
More BigLaw Data
- When Summer Associate Applications Open
- Firms That Require a Writing Sample
- Firms That Require a Cover Letter
- Transcript Requirements by Firm
- Summer Associate Class Size by Firm
- Billable Hour Requirements by Firm
- The Live Job Board
- Summer Associate Deadlines by Firm
- 1L Diversity Fellowships by Firm
- First-Year Associate Pay by Firm
- Law Firm Recruiting Statistics
- Law School Employment Outcomes