2027 2L Summer Associate

*We are currently accepting applications for our Riverside and Ontario offices only*

Best Best & Krieger (BBK) is a leader in municipal and public agency law, representing hundreds of cities, counties, and special districts, including water districts, school districts, health care and hospital districts. Our city attorney and general counsel services include land use, environmental and natural resources matters, public finance, transportation, infrastructure and procurement, elections, labor and employment, and affordable housing. BBK is a unique firm for those looking to practice public sector work in a private law firm setting. BBK was founded 135 years ago and has nearly 250 attorneys in 12 offices throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.

Our eight-week summer program provides law students with a representative sampling of our firm’s diverse practice areas and a chance to experience what it means to be a BBK attorney. Summer associates are given real work assignments that provide the opportunity to sharpen research and writing skills, solve problems for clients, learn from mentors and peers, and develop a greater understanding of how legal work can shape and impact our communities.

Consistent with BBK’s long-standing service to public agencies and communities, our summer associate program emphasizes a commitment to public service and an interest in public agency law. Summer associates will gain hands-on experience collaborating with attorneys who represent cities, counties, special districts and other public entities on issues that directly impact the public.

We are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, promoting, and retaining attorneys and staff from a wide range of backgrounds. The value for our clients comes from the melding of differing experiences, cultures, talents, viewpoints, and styles to drive creative and innovative solutions. This range of perspectives allows us to approach complex legal issues in a way that provides the best outcome for our clients.

We are looking for summer associates who have:

• A demonstrated commitment to public service and a clear intent to practice public agency law - through prior work, internships, volunteering, civic and community engagement, coursework, or a well-articulated career plan;
• Outstanding undergraduate and law school academic achievement that evidences potential for success in the remaining years of law school and as a practicing attorney;
• Meaningful record of contribution to the law school and/or local community (e.g., leadership, service, mentoring) and likelihood to make similar impacts in the legal community upon entering the practice of law;
• A demonstrated interest in practicing law after graduation in the area in which the student is based during the summer associate program.

Highlights of our summer program include:

• Diverse Practice Areas: Gain insight into our environmental and natural resources, labor and employment, business transactions, public finance, telecommunications, real estate, transportation and public infrastructure practices and the unique intersection of these issues and others facing our municipal, special district, and private sector clients.
• Professional Development Trainings: Sessions focused on best writing practices, effective and efficient legal research techniques, law firm finances, fostering diversity, cultivating professionalism, partnership advancement and marketing.
• Engaging Client Opportunities: Attend city council and public agency meetings, court hearings, site visits, board meetings, mediations, and depositions alongside BBK attorneys.
• Connection and Firm Culture: Get to know our attorneys and firm culture during social events such as cooking classes, trivia nights, community service activities, recreational outings, art classes, and sporting events.
• Mentorship: Every summer associate is matched with two dedicated mentors to assist with integration into the firm’s practices, answer questions, and help make connections.
• Diverse Work Experience: Our open work assignment system provides exposure to our various practice areas and allows summer associates to work with different attorneys across the firm’s office locations and practice groups.
• Constructive Feedback & Mid-Summer Review: Receive insight on work product and professional development throughout the summer and at an individualized, in-depth mid-summer review.
• Build Toward a Fulfilling Career: Opportunity to rank interest in BBK practice areas at both the start and conclusion of the summer program to ensure firm placement aligns with summer associate preference.

The summer associate salary is $2300 per week.

Best Best & Krieger is an equal opportunity employer.