2027 Summer Associate- Mechanical & Design Group (Patent Prosecution)

About Sterne Kessler: 

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms dedicated to the protection, transfer and enforcement of IP rights for its clients. Based in Washington, D.C., we are a full-service IP firm offering patent litigation, patent preparation and prosecution of design and utility patents, and trademark and brand protection. Our firm culture is what sets us apart in the industry. It is the talent and dynamism of each individual that contributes to our shared success. We have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance.

The Mechanical & Design Group uses the full complement of IP protection, including utility and design patents, trade dress, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyright, to protect mechanical innovation and evaluate if a new product has freedom to operate in the market.

What to Expect:

• We will review and consider applications from students enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school juris doctor program expecting to graduate in May 2028 for our 2027 Summer Program.


• The 2027 Summer Program will be held in-person in our Washington, DC office from May 24 – July 30, 2027.


• Summer associates may work-from-home 1-2 days per week.


• Summer Associates are compensated at a rate of $4,326/week.


• Our summer associates work on matters involving cutting-edge technologies developed by a broad range of innovative individuals and companies.


• Your summer will include relevant work assignments, an informal mid-point and formal end-of-summer evaluation, workshops/trainings, and exposure to our team structure, all designed to reflect what life is like for an attorney at Sterne Kessler.


• Our summers enjoy a number of social events, which allow summer associates to get to know our attorneys on a personal level. Past events have included our firm-wide crab feast, our firm-wide night at the Nationals, other DC sporting events, cooking classes, city and museum tours, and more.

To Apply:

To qualify for this Summer Associate position, you must be/have:

• Currently enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school juris doctor program and expect to graduate in May 2028.


• Patent bar eligible with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, material science or physics, or an equivalent discipline; Advanced degrees and/or industry experience preferred.


• Stellar academic credentials.


• Obvious interest in intellectual property and patent law, specifically in patent prosecution.   

To complete your application, please complete our application online and upload the following documents:

• Resume.


• Transcripts: law, undergraduate, and graduate (if applicable). We accept unofficial transcripts.


• Writing sample: Legal writing sample preferred. If you do not have a legal writing sample, please provide a writing sample that allows us to assess your technical or persuasive writing.   


• Cover letter (optional, but helpful to provide additional context on your expertise and interest in our firm).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until the positions are filled. We encourage you to apply early. Due to the exciting level of interest in our firm, we are unable to individually contact all candidates to collect materials to complete applications. If you are unsure if your materials successfully uploaded, please email all your materials to [email protected]. 

For questions, please contact Heather Molina at [email protected] or 202-772-8968.