US 1L and 2L Diversity Fellowship Programs

As part of Cooley’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), we are proud to offer diversity fellowships to outstanding law students. Fellowship recipients receive a paid summer associate position and a financial award of up to $50,000 for 1L fellows or $40,000 for 2L fellows.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from law students who:

• Are enrolled full-time in an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
• Demonstrate a commitment to promoting DEI within their local communities and/or more broadly.
• Can participate in and complete Cooley’s summer associate program.
• Are not an immediate family member of any partner or employee of Cooley LLP.

1L Diversity Fellowship applicants: Must have an anticipated graduation date of May/June 2029 (or December 2028) and be eligible to participate in Cooley’s 2027 and 2028 summer program.

2L Diversity Fellowship applicants: Must have an anticipated graduation date of May/June 2029 (or December 2028) and be eligible to participate in Cooley’s 2028 summer program.

Selection criteria

Fellows will be selected based on:

• Demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Undergraduate and law school academic performance.
• Personal achievement.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Community service.

Application materials

Applicants should submit one complete online application that includes:

• A personal statement (not to exceed one single-spaced page) addressing the prompt provided in the application.
• A cover letter indicating your preferred office location and practice area.
• A current résumé.
• An undergraduate transcript (unofficial transcripts accepted).
• Graduate program transcripts (if applicable).
• A law school transcript (if available at the time of application).

Fellowship awards

1L Diversity Fellowship

We are only accepting applications for our 1L Diversity Fellowship for the following offices, subject to office capacity and business needs: Washington, DC, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Monica.

The 1L Diversity Fellowship requires a two-summer commitment. Recipients will participate in both Cooley’s 2027 and 2028 summer associate programs and receive a financial award of up to $50,000, paid as follows:

• $10,000 upon successful completion of Cooley’s 1L summer program.
• $20,000 if the recipient spends at least eight weeks with the firm during the 2L summer, does not spend time at another law firm during that summer, and receives and accepts an offer of full-time employment with Cooley.
• $20,000 upon joining Cooley as a full-time associate, included in the recipient’s first paycheck.

2L Diversity Fellowship

Recipients will receive a paid 2L summer associate position and a financial award of up to $40,000, paid as follows:

• $20,000 if the recipient spends at least eight weeks with the firm during the summer program and receives and accepts an offer of full-time employment with Cooley.
• $20,000 upon joining Cooley as a full-time associate, included in the recipient’s first paycheck.

Please note

• If you are interested in being considered for our 1L Diversity Fellowship, please select this option in the application.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Only one application may be submitted.
• If you are interested in additional office locations or practice areas, please include that information in your cover letter.
• If you apply for a diversity fellowship, there is no need to submit a separate application through Cooley Direct. Candidates not selected for a fellowship will still be considered for a position in our 2028 summer program.
• Applicants will be asked to provide an updated law school transcript once first-semester grades become available. Please email your law school transcript to diversityfellowship@cooley.com once it becomes available.
• Applications must be received by January 29, 2027.

For questions, please contact diversityfellowship@cooley.com.

Learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion at Cooley.

Apply now