Benesch is proud of its commitment to creating a more inclusive legal profession. Through the Benesch 1L + 2L Fellowship Program, we seek to hire individuals who share that same commitment, and who are eager to build a rewarding career in private practice. Fellows will spend both their 1L and 2L summers (2026-2027) with Benesch, gaining a deep understanding of the firm’s work, culture, and clients — and preparing for a strong start to their legal careers. All 1L law students with a demonstrated commitment to inclusion who have done their research and are excited to grow their future at Benesch are encouraged to apply.
This selective two-summer fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity to:
Gain hands-on experience across all Benesch’s core practice areas and various niche specialties
Develop meaningful relationships with attorneys and mentors throughout the firm.
Participate in tailored training and development programs designed to strengthen legal and professional skills.
Contribute to a culture of inclusion that values collaboration and encourages authenticity.
Our exploratory program offers firsthand insight into law firm practice through client interaction, participation in business deals, strategy and negotiation sessions, courtroom activities, and collaboration with Benesch attorneys. Our Summer Foundations Professional Development series, along with mock negotiation and deposition trainings, complement this hands-on experience.
Fellows engage in firm operations—attending department meetings, firm updates, and special events such as the Summer Associate Retreat. They receive varied assignments across practice areas and meaningful feedback, both in the moment and through formal performance reviews. Each Fellow is paired with a partner mentor and an associate buddy for guidance and firm integration.
Fellowship Bonus
In addition to base compensation, Fellows receive the following bonus amounts:
- $5,000 upon acceptance of the Fellowship position
- $10,000 upon completion of their first summer in the program
Criteria
Candidates must be full-time first year law students or part time law students enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school, with an expected graduation date of December 2027 or May 2028. Our recruiting committee will evaluate all applicants and consider the following factors:
- Exceptional law school and undergraduate academic performance
- Outstanding leadership abilities and on campus involvement
- Strong writing and analytical skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- A demonstrated commitment to the advancement of inclusion, whether in the community, in school, or in prior employment
- Life experiences that have shaped professional goals and values consistent with a commitment to inclusion
- A commitment to community service
- A commitment to client service
- An interest in working in private practice
- A desire for a long-term career in your selected city
- Permanent authorization to work in the United States
- Completion of the Suited candidate assessment within three days of application submission
How To Apply
Candidates may apply to and be considered for only one Benesch office. Please submit your resume, first semester law school transcripts, undergraduate transcripts, and a cover letter of 500 words or less via our careers page here. Candidates must also complete the Suited assessment within three days of application submission. If any of these five required components are missing, the application will be considered incomplete.
Your cover letter should include the following elements:
- Describe your interest in Benesch;
- Describe your academic and leadership achievements;
- Using specific examples, explain how your personal, academic, and/or professional background and experiences will allow you to contribute to a culture of inclusion for our team and the clients we serve; and
- If your ties to the city in which you applied are not evident from your resume, please describe your interest in working long term in your selected city, and any connections to that city which might be helpful for our evaluation.
Suited Candidate Assessment: Click here to complete
Benesch has partnered with the predictive candidate screening platform Suited to help us better understand applicants. Our goal is to make the recruiting process as fair and seamless as possible, so we matriculate candidates who will be fulfilled in their roles and complementary to our culture. In addition to your academic background and experience, the traits and competencies captured by these assessments have been proven to be both highly relevant and predictive of on-the-job success as a law associate, while reducing bias in the evaluation process.
Completion of the Suited assessment is a required part of our application process. Please complete the Suited candidate assessment within three days of your application submission date using this link. To request a reasonable accommodation for the assessment, click here.
Note that if you have already completed the Suited assessment for another firm, you will not need to do so again. Rather, you may share your assessment results with Benesch by using the same above link.
For more information about Suited, click here.
Timeline
Benesch will accept applications beginning on Friday, October 31, 2025, through Monday, January 26, 2026. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis upon full completion of the application process, including the resume, cover letter, first semester law school transcripts, undergraduate transcripts, and completion of the Suited assessment. Applying early may be advantageous, and students are strongly encouraged to submit their application in the fall and return to submit law school transcripts as soon as they are received.
For questions regarding the application process, please contact the law school recruiting team via email at lawschoolrecruiting@beneschlaw.com.
