Law Students and Judicial Clerks
Overview
Summer Associate Candidates
The Summer Associate Program is our primary source for recruiting first-year associates at Ballard Spahr. The goal of our Summer Associate Program is to provide a strong foundation of key skills, valuable experience, and important relationships that will allow our summer associates to launch successful careers at the firm.
Summer associates at Ballard Spahr receive substantive, on-the-job training. They complete meaningful assignments, participate in pro bono projects, develop mentor relationships with associates and partners, and have at their disposal a range of innovative training programs and valuable networking opportunities. They work side-by-side with our attorneys and are invited to attend department and practice group meetings throughout the summer.
A highlight of our program is the annual firmwide Summer Associate Retreat, when summer associates from across the program travel to one of our 19 offices for training, networking, and social events. This experience promotes the development of relationships with colleagues across all practices and office locations.
You've worked hard—and you're almost there. We look forward to helping you discover your passion in the legal industry and to supporting you as you build a career.
Entry Level Associate Candidates
We review our hiring needs for entry level associate candidates on an ongoing basis. If you are interested in an entry level associate position after graduation from law school or upon completion of a judicial clerkship, we welcome you to submit your materials through the resume collect links on the “Apply Now” tab. We will keep your materials on file to review if any positions become available.
Summer Program
Summer Associate Training
Ballard Spahr is committed to developing attorneys at all levels of the firm, from summer associates to senior partners. In addition to extensive on-the-job training, our summer associates also participate in a series of speakers and workshops that cover a variety of topics such as legal writing, depositions, transactional drafting, pro bono work, and leadership development.
Exceptional service and remarkable alliances with clients are hallmarks of the firm. Investing in the personal and professional development of our summer associates is a part of that commitment.
Summer Associate Mentorship and Feedback
We believe in transparency, and our summer associates receive continual feedback directly from the lawyers with whom they work.
We have a formal evaluation process that includes a midsummer check-in and end-of-summer review that encompasses valuable feedback from our lawyers on the quality of the summer associate's research, analysis, communication, judgment, and overall work product.
In addition to receiving personalized feedback from senior attorneys, each summer associate is assigned an associate and partner mentor who will informally respond to any questions that may arise throughout the summer.
Summer Associate Social and Networking Events
The Ballard Spahr Summer Associate Program includes a variety of social and networking events to allow summer associates to get to know one another, our attorneys, and the communities in which they work.
Examples of past events in various offices include:
- Dinner at partners' homes
- Bowling night
- Baseball game
- Group workout class
- Scenic walk/run and BBQ
Fellowships
Ballard Spahr is committed to an inclusive workforce because we believe that engaging a variety of perspectives is inextricably intertwined with our ability to provide superior client service.
Our Fellowship Program is open to all actively-enrolled 1L law students without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, handicap or disability, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, transgender status, sex stereotyping, genetic information, ancestry, veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law. For more information on Ballard Spahr’s commitment to equal employment opportunity, see: https://www.ballardspahr.com/Careers.
We are excited to host Fellows in several office locations each year. Our Ballard Spahr Fellows join our Summer Associate Program, and they also have the unique opportunity to spend some time working as interns in the legal departments of our partner organizations.
All Fellowship and Summer Program application links can be found here when they become available.
2026 Fellowships:
Baltimore – Ballard Spahr 1L/2L Dual Summer Fellowship
Denver – Ballard Spahr & Denver International Airport 1L/2L Dual Summer Fellowship
Philadelphia – Ballard Spahr & Corteva 1L/2L Dual Summer Fellowship
Additional Programs:
Philadelphia – Philadelphia Diversity Law Group (PDLG) Fellows Program
Law school engagement
Law School Engagement
We’re looking forward to connecting with students on campus this fall. Join us at one of our upcoming events to learn more about Ballard Spahr.
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Meet the Professors, September 30, 2026
- Washington and Lee University School of Law, Meet the Firms, October 5, 2026
- Oregon Legal Recruiting Association, Pathways to Law Firms Virtual Panel, October 6, 2026
- Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, World Mental Health Day Tabling Event at Drexel University, October 13, 2026
- Temple University Beasley School of Law, World Mental Health Day Tabling at Temple Law School, October 13, 2026
- Lewis & Clark Law School, Pathway to Law Firms Tabling Event, October 14, 2026
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, World Mental Health Day Tabling at Penn Carey Law, October 14, 2026
- University of Oregon School of Law, Pathways to Law Firms Tabling Event, October 15, 2026
- University of Washington School of Law, UW Law Center for Career Development Fall Tabling & Networking Reception, October 15, 2026
- Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Villanova Law's 2026 Big Law: Meet & Greet, October 15, 2026
- Willamette University College of Law, Pathways to Law Firms Tabling Event, October 15, 2026
- Washington State Bar Association, Diversity Employment Expo for Washington State Future Legal Professionals, October 17, 2026
- Seattle University School of Law, SU 1L Law Firm Reception, October 21, 2026
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Class of 2029 Law Firm Recruitment Preview, October 21, 2026
- George Washington University Law School, GW's 2026 Fall Visiting Employer Program, October 22, 2026
- University of St. Thomas School of Law, St. Thomas Law School Employer Reception, October 28, 2026
- American University Washington College of Law, American University's Law Firm Table Talk, October 29, 2026
- Temple University Beasley School of Law, Temple Law School Coffee & Careers, November 2, 2026
- William S. Boyd School of Law (UNLV), UNLV Tabling Meet & Greet, November 4, 2026
- University of Minnesota Law School, Meet the Gophers, November 5, 2026
- University of Denver, Meet the Firms, November 10, 2026
- University of Colorado Law School, Tabling Event for 1L Students, November 13, 2026
- Temple University Beasley School of Law, Temple Law School Mock Interview Program, Fall 2026
- Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, BYU Annual On-Campus Networking Event, January 7, 2027
For more information about Ballard Spahr, please visit our Flo Forward Profile.
FAQs
Students can apply directly through the applications posted on our website and/or through OCI or job fairs in which we participate. If you are applying to Ballard through OCI or a job fair and would like to be considered for an earlier screening interview, we encourage you to also submit a write-in application through our website.
We anticipate posting all 1L and 2L openings on December 1, 2026, for the 2028 Summer Associate Program. Please check back for more information on application opening dates in the coming weeks.
After we conduct initial 15-20 minute screening interviews for select candidates, the top candidates will be invited for callback interviews. The format of our callback interviews can vary slightly depending on office location, but they typically include meeting with approximately four to six lawyers. Callback interviews may take place in person or virtually depending on the office location and the student’s availability.
Once the callback interview is complete, we will do our best to respond to all candidates as soon as possible. We encourage you to keep us updated if you have any deadlines of which we should be aware.
You can view our Step-by-Step Summer Program Application Guide here. If you have questions as you move through our interview process, please reach out to the designated recruiter on the “Contact Us” page.
We aim to expose summer associates to as many lawyers and practice areas as possible during the Summer Program so that they can make informed decisions about their legal careers.
Ballard Spahr’s assignment coordinators (mid-level and senior-level associates) solicit interesting assignments for summer associates to work on over the course of the program. In some cases, our assignment coordinators will assign work based on summer associates’ interests and the firm’s needs. We also have an “assignment pool” that allows summer associates to directly select assignments that interest them. Our assignment coordinators meet regularly with summer associates to help them navigate their work load, connect with new lawyers, and take advantage of all opportunities and resources that are available during the summer and beyond.
If a summer associate position in a particular office is expected to focus on certain practice areas in light of a specific business need, that information will be posted with our application and it will also be discussed with candidates during the hiring process.
Yes. Each summer associate is assigned an associate and partner mentor. These mentors make sure that the summer associate is integrated and fully immersed in the firm's culture and activities. Associate mentors are typically junior-level or mid-level associates whose experience is close to that of our summer associates.
Yes! Pro bono work is an integral part of the culture of Ballard Spahr and we ensure that all summer associates work on at least one pro bono assignment. Prior to the start of the Summer Program, we ask summer associates to provide their pro bono areas of interest so that we can do our best to match them with assignments in those areas.
Ballard Spahr consistently ranks in the top tier of the Am Law Pro Bono Survey. Please visit the Pro Bono section of our website to learn more about the firm's commitment to the communities in which we live and work.
Ballard Spahr's Summer Associate Program lasts for ten weeks.
Apply Now
2027 Summer Associate Program
Thank you for your interest in Ballard Spahr's Summer Associate Program and to all applicants who took the time to apply.
We have now concluded hiring for our 2027 Summer Program and are no longer accepting applications.
To learn more about our firm, our Summer Program, and future recruiting opportunities, please check out our website or view our profile on Flo Forward.
2028 Summer Associate Program
We anticipate posting all 1L and 2L openings on December 1, 2026, for the 2028 Summer Associate Program. Please check back for more information on application opening dates in the coming weeks.
All applications will be submitted through Flo Recruit. To learn more about our firm, our Summer Program, and future recruiting opportunities, please check out our profile on Flo Forward.
Entry Level Candidates
At Ballard, we are passionate about investing in the next generation of legal talent. We welcome the opportunity to connect with law school graduates and soon-to-be graduates who are motivated to grow, contribute, and build rewarding careers in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.
Entry Level (3L) Housing Finance Associate | Baltimore
Entry Level (3L) Real Estate Finance Associate | Philadelphia
If you are a 3L graduating soon and would like to share your materials and express your interest in working at Ballard Spahr, please fill out our form here.
Contact US
For questions about summer associate or entry level associate opportunities, please reach out to the appropriate recruiting contact below:
Atlanta, Baltimore, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., General Recruiting Inquiries
Kathleen Moody, Legal Recruiting Specialist
moodyk@ballardspahr.com | 215.861.7308
Minneapolis, Sioux Falls
Vaishnavi Naidu, Legal Recruiting Specialist
naiduv@ballardspahr.com | 202.223.6123
Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle
Dana Casterella, Manager of Legal Recruiting
casterellad@ballardspahr.com| 206.223.6243
Boulder, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City
Zachary Ottoson, Manager of Legal Recruiting
ottosonz@ballardspahr.com | 215.864.8160
Associate Voices
Ballard Spahr places great emphasis on the professional development of our attorneys in the early and middle stages of their careers—and their health and happiness! How do we go beyond as a place to forge a meaningful career? We’ll leave the explaining to J. Chesley Burruss, Ricardo Johnson, Jessica Payton, Ryan Ricketts, Anjie Zhi, and Sommer Zimmerman, Ph.D.