Class of 2029 Summer Associate- Mechanical & Design Group (Patent Prosecution)

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the world's leading intellectual property law firms, dedicated exclusively to helping innovators protect, develop, and maximize the value of their intellectual property. Based in Washington, D.C., we provide comprehensive IP services, including patent litigation, patent preparation and prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and trademark and brand protection. We are committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually engaging environment where talented individuals can grow, thrive, and succeed together.

We will review and consider applications from students enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school juris doctor program expecting to graduate in May 2029 or May 2030 (for current part-time students) for our 2027 and 2028 Summer Programs.

The Mechanical & Design Group uses the full complement of IP protection, including utility and design patents, trade dress, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyright, to protect mechanical innovation and evaluate if a new product has freedom to operate in the market.

As a Summer Associate, you will belong to one of the following practice groups: Biotechnology & Chemical, Electronics, Mechanical & Design, or Trial & Appellate. You must apply to each practice group you are interested in.

What to Expect

The 2027 Summer Program will be held in-person in our Washington, DC office from May 24 – July 30, 2027.

The 2028 Summer Program will be held in-person in our Washington, DC office from May 22 – July 28, 2028.

Summer associates can expect to work from the office 3-4 days per week, depending on trainings and social events. Summer associates can choose to work-from-home 1-2 days per week. Summer Associates are compensated at a rate of $4,326/week.

Our summer associates work on matters involving cutting-edge technologies developed by a broad range of innovative individuals and companies. The work involves all phases of patent practice, including preparation, prosecution, licensing, client counseling, and litigation.

Your summer will include relevant work assignments, an informal mid-point evaluation and formal end-of-summer evaluation, workshops/trainings, and exposure to our team structure, all designed to reflect what life is like for an attorney at Sterne Kessler.

Our summers enjoy a number of social events which allow summer associates to get to know our attorneys in a more informal capacity. Past events have included a firm-wide crab feast, DC sporting events, city and museum tours, and more.

To Apply

To qualify for this Summer Associate position, you must be/have:

Currently enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school juris doctor program and expect to graduate in May 2029 or May 2030.

Patent bar or design patent bar eligible with a bachelor’s a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Material Science, Physics, Industrial Design, Product Design, Architecture, Applied Arts, Graphic Design, Fine/Studio Arts, or an equivalent discipline is required. Advanced degrees and/or industry experience preferred.

Stellar academic credentials.

Obvious interest in intellectual property and patent law, specifically in patent prosecution.

To complete your application, you must complete our application online and upload the following documents:

Resume.

Transcripts: law, undergraduate, and graduate (if applicable). We accept unofficial transcripts. To submit law transcripts when you receive them, please send those files to: [email protected].

Writing sample: Legal writing sample preferred. If you do not have a legal writing sample, please provide a writing sample that allows us to assess your technical or persuasive writing. Regardless of the nature of your writing sample, you must include a cover page that indicates the following:

Whether you used any generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of your writing sample.

If you used AI, briefly describe the tool(s) used and the nature and extent of the assistance provided (for example, grammar review, editing, outlining, drafting, or research support).

If you used AI in the preparation of your writing sample and it is something you submitted as a class assignment, confirm whether the professor allowed or encouraged generative AI usage in writing.

You must apply to each practice group you are interested in. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until the positions are filled. We encourage you to apply early.

For questions, please contact Heather Molina at [email protected] or 202-772-8968.