Summer Associate Jobs in California
Summer Associate jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in law, finance, consulting, and technology across a market that draws top-tier applicants each year at every level from first-year law students to advanced MBA candidates. The heaviest hiring is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where firms like Gibson Dunn, Deloitte, and Goldman Sachs have long-standing California offices and run structured summer programs annually. The most in-demand tracks are corporate transactional work, investment banking, and strategy consulting. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 53+ Summer Associate jobs
- Los Angeles, California
- Real Estate
- Full-Time
- Hybrid
- Legal
The Opportunity
The Day-To-Day
- Work on actual client cases and projects
- Attend client meetings
- Shadow attorneys on a variety of deals and cases for hands-on learning
You Have
- Completed one year of law school by the spring of 2027 and expecting a JD in May 2029
- Demonstrated academic achievement
- An appreciation for collaboration and teamwork
- A clear interest in Real Estate, evidenced by coursework, certificate programs, or prior work experience
What We Provide
- A specialized training curriculum, including substantive legal seminars
- Training in ethics, client service, marketing, legal writing, communication, and finance taught by leading practitioners
- Practical learning opportunities, such as attending depositions, court appearances, closings, and client meetings
- Cutting-edge legal work on active cases and client projects
More About Seyfarth
Location Specific Language
- Los Angeles, California
- Real Estate
- Full-Time
- Hybrid
- Legal
The Opportunity
The Day-To-Day
- Work on actual client cases and projects
- Attend client meetings
- Shadow attorneys on a variety of deals and cases for hands-on learning
You Have
- Completed one year of law school by the spring of 2027 and expecting a JD in May 2029
- Demonstrated academic achievement
- An appreciation for collaboration and teamwork
- A clear interest in Real Estate, evidenced by coursework, certificate programs, or prior work experience
What We Provide
- A specialized training curriculum, including substantive legal seminars
- Training in ethics, client service, marketing, legal writing, communication, and finance taught by leading practitioners
- Practical learning opportunities, such as attending depositions, court appearances, closings, and client meetings
- Cutting-edge legal work on active cases and client projects
More About Seyfarth
Location Specific Language
See All 53 Summer Associate Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Summer Associate JobsSummer Associate Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Summer Associate Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in summer associate jobs across California.
- Currently enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school or accredited MBA program in good standing
- Completed at least one year of a qualifying JD, MBA, or graduate degree program
- Strong academic record demonstrated through GPA, class rank, or journal or moot court participation
- Prior internship, clinic, or research experience in law, finance, or a related professional field
- Proficiency in legal research platforms, financial modeling, or case analysis relevant to the practice area
- Ability to work on-site in a California office for the duration of the summer program
Summer Associate Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a summer associate in California?
The standard path is to complete your first year at an ABA-accredited law school or a top MBA program, then apply during on-campus recruiting in the fall. California employers prioritize candidates from schools with strong regional ties, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and Stanford. Building a record in moot court, law review, or a finance clinic sharpens your application. No California state license is required for a summer associate role, but passing the California Bar after graduation is the typical next step for law-track candidates.
Which companies hire summer associates in California?
Employers hiring summer associates in California right now include Astranis, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and Goldman Sachs, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of AmLaw 100 offices, major investment banks, and global consulting firms makes it one of the deepest summer associate markets in the country.
Which California cities have the most summer associate jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego have the most summer associate openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco anchor the market through their dense clusters of large law firms, financial institutions, and consulting offices, while San Diego generates consistent openings through its life sciences and technology sectors, where firms run dedicated corporate and transactional summer programs.
Are there remote summer associate jobs in California?
Yes, but they're limited. About 87% of summer associate openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the profession's emphasis on in-person mentorship, client interaction, and team integration during the program. The portions of the work most likely to carry a remote or hybrid component are research, document review, and analytical assignments rather than client-facing or courtroom-adjacent responsibilities.
How can I get hired as a summer associate in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying through your law school or MBA program's on-campus recruiting process, which connects first-year students directly to California firms before prior experience becomes a deciding factor. Large California employers including Latham and Watkins, Skadden, and McKinsey run structured programs designed for candidates without prior professional experience in the field. Strengthening your application with a law school clinic, a finance case competition, or paralegal or financial analyst work before your program begins gives you a concrete edge when competing for these roles.
Where can I find and apply to summer associate jobs in California?
You can find and apply to summer associate jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state's major hiring metros and practice areas. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and target firms, and apply directly through the listings.
See All 53 Summer Associate Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Summer Associate Jobs