J-1 Visa Summer Associate Jobs
Summer Associate positions in the United States are accessible to international students and early-career professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Intern or Trainee program category. A U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019, while the law firm, consulting firm, or financial institution where you work serves as your host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Description Summary
Fenwick & West serves technology and life sciences companies, from innovators to market leaders, in artificial intelligence, social media, gaming, cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles, cryptocurrency, digital health care, and other tech-forward industries. Our Privacy & Cybersecurity Group helps companies of all sizes plan for growth and manage the risks associated with the collection, use, and disclosure of consumer, health, financial, employee, children’s, biometric and other sensitive information. We also provide clients with comprehensive cybersecurity and privacy legal services, from governance, preparedness, and compliance to data breach response, and defense of regulatory investigations and multidistrict class-action litigation, as well as privacy product counseling and advisory services.
Job Description
We are seeking qualified law students who are interested in a career in privacy & cybersecurity law to join our Privacy & Cybersecurity Group for our 2027 Summer Program in our Mountain View (CA), New York, or Washington, DC offices. Eligible applicants should expect to complete the equivalent of four semesters of law school prior to the start of the summer of 2027. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and undergraduate and law school transcript. Cover letters should discuss the applicant’s interest in our Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice, and indicate the office location(s) of interest. Applicants will be evaluated on the merits of their application materials and their interviews. Applications may be submitted without a current law school transcript but will not be considered complete until that transcript is received. Transcripts which do not accompany an application should be sent to fenwickoci@fenwick.com.
Fenwick also offers a 2L Scholarship. In addition to our regular Summer Associate salary, there also will be an opportunity to receive up to $50,000 (gross) in scholarship funds. At the end of the summer, each Scholar will be eligible to receive an offer to join the firm after graduation from law school, contingent upon satisfactory law school grades, work evaluations, and performance feedback. Our 2L Scholarship is open to 2L law students who:
- Have demonstrated a commitment to a more inclusive legal industry;
- Are enrolled full-time in an American Bar Association-accredited law school with an anticipated graduation date of May 2028 at the time of application; and
- Can participate in and complete Fenwick's 2027 Summer Program.
If you would like to also apply for our Scholarship please include a personal statement of no more than 300 words that articulates the ways in which your background, life experiences, values, character, and worldview influence your decision to apply for the Scholarship. Applicants are also encouraged to provide illustrations of their commitment to a more inclusive legal industry and provide information around their specific interest in a summer associate position with Fenwick. This statement should be included with your other application materials.
If you have any questions about the status of your application, please reach out to recruiting@fenwick.com .
The anticipated annual compensation for this position, which will be paid on a pro-rated basis, is: $225,000.
Benefits And Compensation Details
At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program. We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing. The anticipated annual compensation for this position, which will be paid on a pro-rated basis, is: $225,000.
Job Description Summary
Fenwick & West serves technology and life sciences companies, from innovators to market leaders, in artificial intelligence, social media, gaming, cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles, cryptocurrency, digital health care, and other tech-forward industries. Our Privacy & Cybersecurity Group helps companies of all sizes plan for growth and manage the risks associated with the collection, use, and disclosure of consumer, health, financial, employee, children’s, biometric and other sensitive information. We also provide clients with comprehensive cybersecurity and privacy legal services, from governance, preparedness, and compliance to data breach response, and defense of regulatory investigations and multidistrict class-action litigation, as well as privacy product counseling and advisory services.
Job Description
We are seeking qualified law students who are interested in a career in privacy & cybersecurity law to join our Privacy & Cybersecurity Group for our 2027 Summer Program in our Mountain View (CA), New York, or Washington, DC offices. Eligible applicants should expect to complete the equivalent of four semesters of law school prior to the start of the summer of 2027. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and undergraduate and law school transcript. Cover letters should discuss the applicant’s interest in our Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice, and indicate the office location(s) of interest. Applicants will be evaluated on the merits of their application materials and their interviews. Applications may be submitted without a current law school transcript but will not be considered complete until that transcript is received. Transcripts which do not accompany an application should be sent to fenwickoci@fenwick.com.
Fenwick also offers a 2L Scholarship. In addition to our regular Summer Associate salary, there also will be an opportunity to receive up to $50,000 (gross) in scholarship funds. At the end of the summer, each Scholar will be eligible to receive an offer to join the firm after graduation from law school, contingent upon satisfactory law school grades, work evaluations, and performance feedback. Our 2L Scholarship is open to 2L law students who:
- Have demonstrated a commitment to a more inclusive legal industry;
- Are enrolled full-time in an American Bar Association-accredited law school with an anticipated graduation date of May 2028 at the time of application; and
- Can participate in and complete Fenwick's 2027 Summer Program.
If you would like to also apply for our Scholarship please include a personal statement of no more than 300 words that articulates the ways in which your background, life experiences, values, character, and worldview influence your decision to apply for the Scholarship. Applicants are also encouraged to provide illustrations of their commitment to a more inclusive legal industry and provide information around their specific interest in a summer associate position with Fenwick. This statement should be included with your other application materials.
If you have any questions about the status of your application, please reach out to recruiting@fenwick.com .
The anticipated annual compensation for this position, which will be paid on a pro-rated basis, is: $225,000.
Benefits And Compensation Details
At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program. We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing. The anticipated annual compensation for this position, which will be paid on a pro-rated basis, is: $225,000.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Summer Associate
Confirm your program category before applying
Intern category requires current enrollment in a degree program or graduation within 12 months. Trainee category applies if you've graduated and have at least one year of relevant work experience. Applying under the wrong category can invalidate your DS-2019.
Ask host employers about their designated sponsor relationship
Many law firms and consulting firms that run Summer Associate programs work with a specific designated sponsor like Cultural Vistas or IIE. Confirm early whether the host has an established sponsor relationship or expects you to arrange your own DS-2019.
Search for J-1-compatible Summer Associate roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate surfaces U.S. employers and roles that align with J-1 sponsorship requirements, so you can target hosts that already understand the program structure rather than educating employers from scratch.
Prepare a training plan that maps to your degree field
Your designated sponsor requires a signed Training or Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) before issuing the DS-2019. Draft this document in advance with your host supervisor, ensuring each phase of the Summer Associate rotation ties directly to your academic or professional field.
Verify your host employer meets USCIS workplace standards
Designated sponsors conduct a host employer vetting review before issuing any DS-2019. Employers with fewer than five full-time U.S. workers, or those that place you at a separate worksite without oversight, routinely fail this review and delay or block your program start.
Track your 30-day grace period after the program end date
Once your J-1 program end date passes, you have a 30-day grace period to depart the United States. If you intend to convert to another visa status after your Summer Associate role ends, that process must begin before your program end date, not after.
Summer Associate jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Summer Associate JobsSummer Associate J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category covers Summer Associate positions?
Most Summer Associate participants use the J-1 Intern category, which covers current students or individuals who graduated within the past 12 months. Early-career professionals who graduated more than a year ago and have relevant work experience qualify instead under the Trainee category. Your designated sponsor determines which category applies based on your academic status at the time you apply.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa for a Summer Associate role?
Your visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your host employer. Organizations like Cultural Vistas, IIE, and CIEE issue the DS-2019 form and act as your official program sponsor. The law firm, bank, or consulting firm where you complete the Summer Associate program is your host employer and is responsible for your day-to-day supervision and training.
How do I find Summer Associate host employers that support J-1 visa arrangements?
Many employers that run formal Summer Associate programs are unfamiliar with J-1 hosting requirements and may conflate it with H-1B sponsorship. Migrate Mate helps you identify U.S. employers and roles that align with J-1 sponsorship, so you can focus your search on hosts that already understand the program. Starting with J-1-compatible employers cuts down the time spent explaining the visa structure to recruiters.
Does the J-1 two-year home residency requirement apply to Summer Associates?
It can. The two-year home-country physical presence requirement under INA Section 212(e) may apply if your program is funded by your home government or the U.S. government, or if your home country has listed your field as in short supply on the Exchange Visitor Skills List. Your designated sponsor will note this condition on your DS-2019, and you should confirm your status before accepting a Summer Associate offer with the expectation of returning to the U.S. afterward.
What documentation does a host employer need to provide before my DS-2019 is issued?
Your designated sponsor requires a completed and signed Training or Internship Placement Plan (DS-7002), a host employer agreement, and evidence that the host has the supervisory capacity and resources to support a structured training experience. The DS-7002 must detail the specific skills and activities for each phase of your Summer Associate rotation, and it must be signed by both the host supervisor and the exchange visitor before the sponsor releases your DS-2019.
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