Irwin IP is an intellectual property litigation boutique looking for summer associates with demonstrable proficiency in technology and a background in computer science/software or electrical engineering to support its patent litigation practice. Must be patent-bar eligible to be considered for a summer associate position. Our program is in person and includes many opportunities to socialize with other IP professionals and enjoy all Chicago has to offer. Irwin IP will provide you with active and meaningful case responsibilities; (2) teach you critical legal skills through participation in exciting intellectual property litigation cases; (3) provide an opportunity to work side-by-side with experienced litigators; and (4) enable meaningful interaction with a team. Irwin IP strongly encourages all diverse candidates to apply.
Please send your resume and transcripts to careers@irwinip.com. Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.
“During my summer at Irwin IP, I was trusted with real, substantive assignments that pushed me to develop my skills right away. As a summer associate, I felt fully integrated into the team and was given meaningful responsibility from the very beginning. The firm’s open-door culture ensured I always had support when I needed it. The combination of meaningful work and a genuinely fun team made my summer at Irwin IP a great experience.”
“My summer associate experience at Irwin IP was exceptional. I was entrusted with meaningful, substantive work that allowed me to contribute directly to active matters while building practical skills. I also had the opportunity to gain real-world experience, including attending a deposition. The attorneys were supportive with their mentorship, taking the time to explain their reasoning and provide thoughtful feedback. Overall, my summer reaffirmed my interest in intellectual property law and Irwin IP as a firm.”
Before the summer begins, the firm leaders meet and discuss the summer associates and try to match each summer associate to a team based on his or her educational and work experience to date. As summer progresses, we encourage our summer associates to reach out to any attorney with whom they would like to work and see if there are any opportunities to work on projects with them.
Summer associates will work directly with senior attorneys who provide feedback and constructive criticism on their assignments. At the end of the summer, we hold in-person evaluation meetings with each summer associate.
Summer associates will generally work on billable matters but may also have the opportunity to work on pro bono matters on a case-by-case basis. Past summer associates have had the opportunity to work on pro bono matters such as drafting a response to a trademark office action and researching copyright royalty issues for a contract negotiation.
Our summer associates participate in a one-day orientation/training session their first week at the firm. There traditionally have also been various opportunities throughout the summer to join the trainings that may be offered for firm attorneys.
Typically, we do not consider 1Ls. Please reach out to our careers team when you are a 2L.
We view our summer associates as valuable members of our firm. Every year, we invite a few selected individuals to participate in Irwin IP’s Summer Associate Program at our Chicago office. Our program is designed to quickly integrate summer associates into our teams by giving them real assignments, not just research projects or “busy work.” Unlike other firms where summer associates work on piecemeal assignments, Irwin IP’s summer associates are staffed on cases which best fit their backgrounds and interests and are able to meaningfully contribute to those cases.
If you are looking for a summer associate position that will (1) help you develop your knowledge; (2) hone your skills as you dive into the thick of exciting intellectual property litigation cases; (3) provide an opportunity to work side-by-side with experienced litigators; and (4) enable meaningful interaction with a team that is getting a case ready for trial, consider Irwin IP.
