2025 1L Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship - Emerging Companies & Venture Capital - Palo Alto

At Perkins Coie, we foster a diverse and inclusive community where opportunities to succeed are available to all. Embracing diversity allows us to draw from different backgrounds and experiences, enabling us to attract the best talent to our ranks, and in turn build strong teams that provide excellent service to our clients. We are committed to creating an environment in which all our people thrive because they feel a sense of belonging. We are proud to offer our 1L Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program as part of our comprehensive, firmwide commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion.
We have a long history of being intentional and consistent in our efforts to increase the diversity of our workforce and to advance the benefits of diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. We are proud to have supported law students through Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship program initiatives for more than thirty years.
Our Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice supports venture backed start-ups through their entire lifecycle – from incorporation to exit – with knowledge that goes beyond formation and financing structures. The group provides end-to-end strategic legal and business counseling to the leading-edge companies of tomorrow and acts as an extension of a client’s team, helping them avoid issues before they arise. The practice also represents funds, investment advisers, and independent board members in many matters related to their start-up investments.
Candidates for the 1L Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship - Emerging Companies & Venture Capital must be committed to excellence, proactive, detail oriented, have customer service experience (e.g., retail or food services industry) and a demonstrated interest in and/or work experience in venture capital and/or technology start-ups generally.
1L Diversity & Inclusion Fellows are full participants in our summer associate program and must spend the first 10 weeks of their summer(s) with Perkins Coie. In addition to receiving a summer associate salary, Fellows will also receive a $15,000 stipend at the conclusion of their first-year summer. Fellows who return as 2Ls will receive a $15,000 stipend at the beginning of their second-year summer. The Fellows who accept an offer to join Perkins Coie as an associate after graduation will receive a $10,000 stipend in late May of their final year of law school.
All students who are in good standing in their first year at an ABA-accredited law school are eligible to apply for the 1L Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program. Perkins Coie is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications for the 1L Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program from all eligible applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity / gender expression, disability status, or any other identity.
Please review the FAQs prior to submitting your application.
A complete application must include:
• Current resume,
• Cover letter,
• Undergraduate, graduate (if applicable), and law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable; if law school transcript is not available at the time of application, one must be provided as soon as available),
• A legal writing sample (10-page maximum), and
• A personal statement (one-page, single-spaced document in 12-point Times New Roman font). The personal statement should be a narrative about your unique personal history and commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within your community and in the legal profession and should provide concrete examples of diversity and inclusion leadership, resilience, and perspective.
We evaluate all applications for the fellowship and consider the following factors:
• Academic achievement – A demonstrated record of academic achievement and excellent writing and interpersonal skills, as well as experience that will contribute to a successful career in the legal field.
• Diversity and Inclusion leadership – Diversity and inclusion initiatives or programs you have established, expanded, or otherwise substantively engaged in while in school (including undergraduate), with an employer, or in your community.
• Resilience – Obstacles you have encountered and overcome and what you learned from those experiences.
• Perspective – Relevant life experiences that have shaped your personal and professional goals.
Application Deadline: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning on November 15, 2024. We urge you to apply as early as possible. The postings will close when positions are filled.
Candidates should only apply to one office. All application materials should be uploaded in PDF format.

This position is not benefits-eligible; however, paid holidays are available. In California, the monthly compensation for this role is $18,750.00 per month.