Careers

Available Positions

We are currently accepting applications for our 2024 2L Summer Associate Program.

You may submit your resume via our online application system to apply for an open 2L position. All students should apply in accordance with their law school’s recruiting guidelines.

Free law school prep course

If you are a 1L, or a student considering law school, we encourage you to take advantage of our free law school prep course.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Winston is committed to providing employment opportunities to individuals whose experience and abilities best match job requirements. Please click here for more information on our EEO policy.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION ACT

Why Choose Winston?

At Winston & Strawn, you will be a trusted colleague, encouraged to innovate and collaborate. This is a chance to join world-class attorneys, doing complex work for sophisticated clients.

Winston’s summer experience is professionally challenging and personally enjoyable. If you choose Winston, you’ll gain exposure to a wide range of Practice and Industry Areas through hands-on training and real work assignments. You’ll also attend a variety of social events to get to know Winston’s attorneys in a relaxed setting while learning more about the city where you’re spending your summer. Download our Why Choose Winston Summary.

Results of recent legal industry surveys underscore the satisfaction of law students and new lawyers who chose to join Winston.

The 2022 Vault Rankings named Winston a Top 50 Law Firm to Work For and a Top 50 Best Summer Associate Program. Please download our 2022 Vault Highlight Summary or see our Vault/FirstHand profile to learn more.

In the Chambers’ 2022 Associate Satisfaction Survey, Winston ranked in the top 25 of all law firms for career development and diversity, equity and inclusion and ranked in the top 50 for associate satisfaction, associate retention, quality of life, and pro bono. Please see our Chambers Associate “Inside View” profile to learn more about working at Winston. 

For tips to boost your resilience during the law student interviewing process, see this blog post, by Winston’s Director of Coaching and Well-Being Diane Costigan. 

Many Winston attorneys who started out in our Summer Program have continued to be involved in summer associate programming and training as associates and partners at the firm. 

John Schreiber, Los Angeles, Litigation Partner
“As the Los Angeles Hiring Partner, I tell law students to take the opportunity to get to know and work with as many attorneys as you can. Ask questions—we love to talk about ourselves and our practices. Pay attention to detail in your assignments, but don’t stress. Be yourself. And have a go-to karaoke song at the ready.”

Need to Know

What is the best thing about working at Winston? 
Sofia Arguello, New York, Partner
“In the end, people make up a firm, and the people at Winston are the type of people you want to work with and for.”

Visit the People at Winston page to learn more about the diverse personalities and strengths of our people, who are the foundation of our firm.

How do I apply for Winston’s Summer Associate Program?
We begin accepting resumes from 2L students in June, and our interviewing process typically concludes in late September. First-year law students are encouraged to check our website after December to determine which of our offices are accepting applications from 1Ls. Visit our On Campus Interviews page for more information.

Can I apply if I don’t attend an OCI school?
You may submit your resume via our online application system if we do not interview on your campus or you are unable to secure an on-campus interview.  

How does Winston’s callback interview process work?
We contact callback candidates shortly after their on-campus interview. Callback interviews generally take two to four hours, during which candidates meet with several of our attorneys from different practice groups. Some of our offices also offer an Evening Interview Program, which is communicated through the callback invitation.

What should I bring to my callback interview?
Callback candidates should bring copies of their resume and transcript. Writing samples and references are not required.

What expenses does Winston reimburse?
We reimburse all reasonable travel, meal, and hotel expenses for callback interviews. Guidelines are provided during the scheduling process. Winston has an in-house travel department that can assist with these arrangements.

Does Winston allow split summers?
We strongly encourage summer associates to select one Winston office to take full advantage of all planned activities. The exceptions are our Dallas and Houston office programs, which are structured to accommodate split summer requests. Visit our North America Summer Associate Program page for more details.

Will I be assigned to a specific practice area?
Winston has a free-flowing assignment system that allows summer associates to work on projects from a variety of practice areas and partners. You will have the opportunity to indicate your preferred practice area(s) at the start of the summer and again at the conclusion. Visit our Work/Life @ Winston page for more information.

What can I expect in terms of project quality and quantity during the summer?
Our assignment attorneys maintain a database of available projects and works to ensure that each summer associate has equal opportunities and access to quality work. Projects are submitted by partners and associates and range from simple and straightforward to more substantive and time consuming. Summer associates also are encouraged to request projects from particular practice areas of interest.

What types of training programs are provided to summer associates?
Summer associates participate in our Winston University Development System during their time at the firm. Winston University includes summer associate training programs in negotiating deals, drafting an IPO, taking a deposition, and arguing a case in a mock trial. Summer associates receive invaluable professional development opportunities through networking and collaborating with some of the country’s top attorneys. Our dynamic talent development team ensures summer associates have the resources they need for peak performance. Please visit the Learning & Development page for more details about Winston University.

Will I be assigned a summer advisor?
Each Winston summer associate has an advisor who serves as your first point of contact and guide throughout the program. Advisors assist in obtaining work assignments, host lunches, review written work product, and are available to answer any questions.

What is the firm’s feedback and review process for summer associates?
Summer associates receive feedback throughout the summer from the partners and associates they work with on projects. The Summer Committee also conducts a formal mid-summer review, and summer associates receive a final review at the end of the program.

How does Winston help 3Ls stay connected to the firm once they’ve accepted an offer?
Watch this brief video in which Lisa McLafferty, Winston’s Chief Talent Officer, talks about our various touchpoints with incoming associates.

Does Winston have training programs for non-U.S. law students?
Winston & Strawn London invests significant time and effort in our trainees and sees them as critical to the promotion and success of the office. We offer a two-week vacation scheme for students who wish to apply for a training contract with our London office. In Paris, we accept applications year-round from ‘stagiaires-avocats’ interested in our internship program for law students. 

How does Winston’s summer program support diversity and inclusion?
The firm is committed to recruiting diverse law students and attorneys. We recruit at numerous diversity career fairs, offer $50,000 Winston & Strawn Diversity Scholarships, and hire several law students each year through the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholars program. Please visit our Work/Life @ Winston page for more information.

Are there pro bono opportunities available to summer associates?
Summer associates are encouraged to participate in Winston’s substantial pro bono activities, which allow you to serve critical needs in the community while gaining valuable legal experience. Our Pro Bono Fellowship provides a $10,000 stipend for incoming associates performing 300 hours of pro bono legal services during the summer after law school graduation. Please visit our Work/Life @ Winston page for more information.

Dhruva Krishna, Los Angeles, Associate
“I had an incredible time serving as a 2020 Pro Bono Fellow. It gave me the opportunity to combine my interests in research, intellectual property, and community engagement. This was especially exciting as I was able to research cutting-edge copyright legislation and learn a variety of negotiation skills that have already served me well. I strongly encourage any incoming associates to take advantage of this rewarding opportunity.”

Does Winston’s summer program include a community service component?
Our Corporate Social Responsibility program—Winston for Good—is built on the firm’s values and heritage and makes an intentional impact in our communities. Local office Winston for Good teams identify, coordinate, and mobilize multiple volunteer opportunities each year, including a volunteer event for summer associates. Visit our Work/Life @ Winston page for more information.

View this brief video in which Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Julie Goodman describes the culture of CSR at Winston.

Bill O’Neil, Chair, Hiring Committee

NORTH AMERICA

Charlotte & Washington, D.C.
Alison Haley
Attorney Recruiting & Development Specialist
Email 

Chicago
Val Fegan
Attorney Recruiting & Development Specialist
Email

Dallas & Houston
Mary Korenek
Attorney Recruiting & Development Coordinator
Email

Los Angeles
Katherine Murray
Attorney Recruiting & Development Specialist
Email

New York 
Caitlin Costello
Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager
Email

Miami
Emily Wiegand
Senior Manager, Law Student Recruiting
Email

San Francisco & Silicon Valley
Stacy Coglianese
Attorney Recruiting & Development Coordinator
Email

EUROPE

Brussels & London
Ellen Scott
Human Resources Generalist
Email

Paris
Alexandra Boudon
Office Manager
Email

ASIA

Joanne Wong
Director of Finance/Administration – Asia
Email

North america Summer Associate Program

Winston’s Summer Associate Program seeks well-rounded, motivated, imaginative law students who are team players and will work hard for our clients. Our program is 10 weeks and runs from mid-May to late July and provides real work experience, mentoring relationships, pro bono opportunities, and life-long social connections. Law students who join Winston’s summer program work on a wide variety of corporate and litigation projects with outstanding attorneys who are welcoming, kind, and genuinely invested in your professional growth and happiness. You will also participate in a best-in-class series of legal and professional skills-training programs delivered through Winston University and benefit from Assignment Attorneys who ensure you work on meaningful and challenging assignments that allow you to explore your interests. Please view the following video for a brief overview of our outstanding and diverse 2021 Summer Associate Class.

Kurt Mathas, Partner, Chicago
“As Chicago Hiring Partner, I think the success of Winston’s program is attributable to three things. First, it’s Winston’s people. Our lawyers and staff are fully engaged and eager to help make the summer program a great experience for the law students so they feel welcomed when they are here and leave knowing the kind of people they’ll be working with when they join as associates. Second, it’s the balance we strike between work and play. We wine and dine our summer associates, but also give them meaningful work, which makes for a professionally challenging and socially enjoyable summer. Third, it’s the law students themselves. We recruit the best and brightest, and they jump with both feet into their work assignments and training activities, taking full advantage of the opportunity to learn from our attorneys.”

The practical training component provides hands-on experience in negotiating a deal, drafting an IPO, taking a deposition, or arguing a case in a mock trial. Department presentations allow summer associates to meet attorneys from specific practices. The Firm Highlight Lecture Series features high-profile and complex cases the firm handled in the past year.

Summer associates are encouraged to participate in Winston’s substantial Pro Bono activities. Our Pro Bono Fellowship provides a $10,000 stipend for incoming associates performing 300 hours of pro bono legal services during the summer after law school graduation and prior to their official start date with the firm.

Our firm supports diverse law students through various initiatives, including the Winston & Strawn Diversity Scholarship Program, which awards $50,000 to selected 2L students who are participating in our Summer Associate Program to help offset the expense of their legal education. Learn more about the Winston & Strawn LLP Diversity Scholarship Program. We also hire several law students each year through the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholars program.

Each U.S. office has its own summer associate program. Our firmwide NALP Form can be found here. Click on your office(s) of interest for details.

Charlotte | Chicago | Dallas | Houston | Los Angeles | Miami I New York | San Francisco/Silicon Valley | Washington, D.C.

Charlotte

Winston’s Charlotte office opened in 2008 to better serve the needs of our major financial, energy, and manufacturing clients headquartered in this business and cultural hub. This close-knit office welcomes a small number of law students each year to participate in its summer associate program, which provides work in litigation and transactions, and features social and community activities including a cooking class, Charlotte Squawks show, Habitat for Humanity project, and other local adventures.

Winston’s Charlotte attorneys have strong ties to the community through their many pro bono and public service initiatives. The office has formed an education partnership with Carolina Metro Reds, a baseball and softball organization for disadvantaged youth. In addition, the firmwide chair of Winston’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Partner Kobi Kennedy Brinson, is resident in the Charlotte office.

Contact: Alison Haley, Attorney Recruiting & Development Specialist, Email
NALP Form

Peyton Poston, Associate, Charlotte
“I chose Winston first and foremost because I wanted to work for a firm with strong female partners. I was also drawn to the fact that, at Winston, you have the opportunity to work on complex matters for sophisticated clients alongside colleagues who take a genuine interest in your growth and success as an attorney.”

Chicago

Winston’s founding office in Chicago welcomes approximately 20-25 law students each year to its summer associate program. Participants receive hands-on training through a writing workshop, learn about the firm’s practice at Transactions and Litigation Department career nights, and enjoy social events that have included fantastic seats to a Cubs game, a Lake Michigan boat cruise, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Adler Planetarium.

All Chicago attorneys and staff enjoy Winston Café’s casual, collaborative space, which is also the hub for weekly happy hours.

Contact: Val Fegan, Attorney Recruiting & Development Specialist, Email
NALP Form

Sean Suber, Partner, Chicago
“I felt good about joining Winston because the firm was genuinely interested in investing in my growth as a lawyer, and more interested in what I could provide moving forward; not just what I have done in the past.”

Dallas

Winston’s 2017 expansion of our footprint in Texas was described in the press as a “seismic shift” in Dallas legal circles and a D CEO profile equated it with the creation of an “Olympic Dream Team.” The founding partners serve as business and legal advisors to Fortune 500 companies, private equity funds, and billionaires, including Mark Cuban.

Through the program, law students work with our pre-eminent transactional attorneys on capital markets and securities, finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and other matters and with litigators who have extensive first-chair trial experience in sensitive, high-profile matters across the country. Program participants also get to know the city through a variety of social and civic activities that have included a Cowboys stadium tour, cooking competition, trivia night, and volunteering at the Stewpot.

Contact: Mary Korenek, Attorney Recruiting & Development Coordinator, Email
NALP Form

Emily Semon, Associate, Dallas 
“I was initially attracted to Winston because I was impressed with the partners and associates who I interviewed with in the Dallas office. I continually find that the quality of the people, both personally and professionally, and the quality of work has surpassed my expectations. I feel lucky to have started my career being trained by the partners and associates at Winston.”

Houston

Winston’s Houston office opened in 2011 with a prominent team known for their work on complex intellectual property and commercial litigation matters. Our Houston IP litigators represent leading innovators in patent, trademark, and trade secret matters, and many of them have technical degrees. The office has grown to include an equally strong transactional practice with high-profile lateral additions in the corporate, energy, and real estate areas.

Summer associates in Houston get to know the firm and its attorneys during annual events such as a curling competition, casino night, Astros game, and a Winston for Good event. The office was ranked the No. 1 law firm in Houston in the 2021 AmLaw Midlevel Survey and was the highest ranked in the entire state of Texas.  The office also won Houston Business Journal’s (HBJ) inaugural Diversity Award for outstanding small company.

Contact: Mary Korenek, Attorney Recruiting & Development Coordinator, Email
NALP Form

Franklin Shen, Associate, Houston
“The partners I work with invest their time in me to not only make sure I understand the substance of why we do things a certain way, but also go out of their way to know me as a person. That goes a long way in terms of both finding value in the work I do and building professional relationships.”

Los Angeles

Summer associates in Winston’s Los Angeles office enjoy the benefits of a smaller program while working in one of the world’s largest cities. Assignments span the full spectrum of Winston practice areas, including litigation, transactions, and labor and employment, with exposure to renewable energy, technology, and other entrepreneurial sectors.

Ranked No. 1 (tie) in the AmLaw Summer Associate Survey for three years in a row, our LA summer program is (in)famous for its Korean BBQ & Karaoke event, and Malibu wine safari. Winston’s LA office is service-oriented as well as social, consistently achieving 100 percent pro bono participation and engaging in friendly competition through events such as Learning Rights Law Center’s Education Challenge.

Contact: Katherine Murray, Attorney Recruiting & Development Specialist, Email
NALP Form

Jason Campbell, Partner, Los Angeles
“Prior to law school, I met several Winston attorneys who represented the ad agency where I was working. What really stood out was their genuine enjoyment of their work and their camaraderie. This perception was confirmed when I joined the firm as a summer associate.”

Miami

Located in the heart of the city’s Financial District, Winston’s Miami office launched in 2022 with a strong team of transactional and litigation partners from prestigious law firms operating in South Florida. Our Miami office serves clients representing some of the global economy’s strongest and fastest growing sectors, including financial services, cryptocurrency and blockchain, real estate, energy and infrastructure, and Latin America.

A focal point for collaboration across the firm, the Miami office is helping build new avenues for corporate transactional services. It also speaks to Winston’s heritage as a litigation powerhouse given growing litigation in the Southern District of Florida, which is driven by a significant uptick in product liability and class action matters. This summer we are recruiting our inaugural 2023 Summer Associate class.

Contact: Emily Wiegand, Senior Manager Law Student Recruiting, Email
NALP Form

New York

Since the arrival of a large group led by renowned sports and antitrust litigator Jeffrey Kessler, Winston’s New York office has steadily grown to become the firm’s second-largest with more than 250 attorneys, including high-profile trial lawyer Abbe Lowell. The office also has a culture of giving back, routinely achieving record-setting pro bono participation through projects such as our annual City Bar Justice Center Fresh Start Clinic.

The office welcomes approximately 20 law students each summer for the firm’s 10-week program, which is filled with substantive work, training opportunities, and social functions. Mock negotiations enable summers to play the role of counsel and guide their clients through a merger, and the mock trial features Winston attorneys and staff in the roles of judge, witnesses, and jurors. Program participants get to know each other and experience a taste of the big apple through a range of activities, from Brooklyn Bowl and the Harlem Jazz Show to a volunteer event at the New York Food Bank.    

Contact: Caitlin Costello, Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager, Email
NALP Form

Jack Cartwright, Associate, New York 
“I initially chose Winston because of its reputation as a litigation powerhouse. The firm’s deep bench of experienced litigators, the clients it represents, and the scale of its resources are unmatched. I knew it would be a place where I could learn and develop as a new lawyer. But beyond that, the people I met and now work with have all been welcoming and down to earth.”

San Francisco/Silicon Valley

Each summer, Winston’s San Francisco office welcomes law students who work alongside partners and associates to assist clients in the computer hardware and software, telecommunications, life sciences, and other innovative industries. Summer associates participate in a mock trial, with the San Francisco head of litigation playing the role of judge. Some of Bay Area offices’ staple summer outings include a Giants baseball game and Sonoma wine tour.

With the 2013 opening of a second Bay Area office, Winston is strategically positioned to expand the legal services we provide to some of the hottest companies in Silicon Valley. The office partnered with Google to present an inspiring fireside chat as part of our firm’s Black History Month programming. Winston’s Bay Area attorneys and staff also support the community through Bar Association of San Francisco’s Food From The Bar campaign and other activities throughout the year. 

Contact: Stacy Coglianese, Attorney Recruiting & Development Coordinator, Email
SF NALP Form / SV NALP Form

Drew Washington, Associate, San Francisco
“What impressed me most as a summer associate at Winston was the people. They were people I wanted to learn from and, by the end of the summer, considered friends. This is even truer now that I am an associate. Winston partners and senior associates are invested in my career development, and I feel comfortable asking them questions. Just as important, I respect and admire them and enjoy spending time with them.”

Washington, D.C.

Winston’s Washington, D.C. office welcomes law students each summer to learn from among the nation’s top litigators and regulatory attorneys. The D.C. office advises on major appellate, antitrust, patent, and white-collar matters, and is known for its robust regulatory and enforcement capabilities in energy, environment, and health care. Our D.C. summer associates have toured the United States Supreme Court, socialized at casino and trivia nights, and explored the nation’s capital via Potomac boat excursion.

Located a short distance from the White House, our Washington, D.C. office is brand new, with modern details that include open spaces that facilitate collaboration and a private rooftop that is a favorite place for attorneys and staff to gather and network. Our community involvement includes supporting local nonprofit Everybody Wins.

Contact: Alison Haley, Attorney Recruiting & Development Specialist, Email
NALP Form

Lauren Gailey, Associate, Washington, D.C.
“I chose Winston because I wanted the opportunity to position myself as a go-to lawyer in a growing, dynamic appellate practice.” 

On-Campus Interviews

We will meet with and interview law students for our 2024 Summer Associate Program at the following law schools and job fairs:

LAW SCHOOLS

• Berkeley Law - TBD
• Brooklyn Law School – July 24
• Columbia University Law School – July 31
• Cornell Law School – August 1
• DePaul University College of Law – August 1
• Duke University School of Law – August 3
• Fordham University School of Law – August 1
• George Washington University Law School - TBD
• Georgetown University Law Center – August 1
• Harvard Law School – August 4
• Howard University School of Law – August 1
• Loyola Law School, Los Angeles - TBD 
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law – August 2
• New York University School of Law – July 26
• Northwestern Pritzker School of Law – August 1
• Santa Clara University School of Law – August 4
• Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law – August 4
• St. John's University School of Law – July 31
• Stanford Law School – August 1 
• UC Davis School of Law – August 2
• UCLA School of Law – July 25
• University of California College of the Law, San Francisco – August 3
• University of Chicago Law School - TBD
• University of Florida Levin College of Law – July 25
• University of Houston Law Center – August 1
• University of Illinois College of Law – August 1
• University of Miami School of Law - TBD
• University of Michigan Law School – July 31
• University of North Carolina School of Law – July 31
• University of Notre Dame Law School – July 31
• University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School – August 1
• University of Southern California Gould School of Law - TBD
• University of Texas School of Law – August 1
• University of Virginia School of Law – July 31
• Vanderbilt Law School – July 20
• Washington University School of Law – June 15
• Yale Law School – July 31

CAREER FAIRS

• Bay Area Diversity Career Fair – July 14
• CCBA Minority Job Fair – July 18
• Lavender Law Career Fair – July 24-26
• Loyola Patent Law Interview Program – July 20
• San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Associate Job Fair (SFIPLA) – July 28
• Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) – July 14
• Sunbelt Diversity Job Fair – July 21
• Veterans Career Fair - TBD

1L LCLD SCHOLAR PROGRAM

Winston & Strawn’s 1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholar program is a unique opportunity for diverse 1L law students to gain early experience working with world-class attorneys while developing strong mentoring relationships. LCLD Scholars at Winston will have the opportunity to attend the LCLD Scholars Summit and be able to spend part of the summer working directly with one of our clients as well as participating in the firm’s annual Diversity Roundtable. 

Mia Uhunmwuangho, Washington, D.C. Associate, 2021 Summer Associate, and 2020 1L LCLD Scholar
“Winston ensures you’ll have a unique summer experience tailored to your goals. I worked on a variety of projects and assignments because everyone at Winston cares about our professional development. It was truly an invaluable experience being at a firm where the work and the people are great.”

 1L LCLD Program Highlights:

• Challenging work experience on complex disputes and transactions
• Working directly with one of Winston’s clients for part of the summer
• Participating in Winston’s Diverse Summer Associate Roundtable hosted by the firm’s D&I Committee
• Compensation based on first-year associate annual salary of $215,000
• Potential to receive a $50,000 scholarship if you complete both our 1L and 2L summer associate programs and accept an offer of full-time employment

In 2022, Winston’s LCLD Scholars gained valuable client-side experience at Abbott, Accenture, Bank of America, Beckton Dickinson, Vistra Energy, and VMWare.

Caleb Washington, 2022 Summer Associate and 2021 1L LCLD Scholar, New York 
“I had a wonderful experience during my time at Bank of America. Having previously worked in investment banking compliance, I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to shadow my mentors within the bank’s 
Global Principal Investments and Employment groups.” 

Selection Criteria:

• Interest in practicing law after graduation in one of our U.S. offices
• A record of excellent academic achievement
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and interpersonal skills
• Membership in an historically underrepresented group in the legal profession, including law students who are racial/ethnic minorities, and/or LGBTQ+

Tyree Petty-Williams, Chicago Associate, 2020 Summer Associate, and 2019 1L LCLD Scholar
“I had an incredible summer at Winston. I was able to gain experience in areas from patent litigation to pro bono asylum work—and had so much fun in the process.”

Watch Winston’s diverse 2021 summer associates share highlights of their summer in this fun “Pass the Phone Challenge” video.

FREE LAW SCHOOL PREP COURSE

Cracking the code for law school success can be especially difficult for first-generation students and those who cannot afford pricey prep courses. To help address this inherent inequity and give everyone a fair and fighting chance to succeed, Winston created a free law school prep course—The Law School Experience.

This free, online prep course will teach you how to:

• Succeed on law school exams
• Read and analyze case law
• Write a useful, thorough law school course outline
• Make an effective constitutional argument

The course is self-paced, so you can learn on your own time. Upon completion of the six to seven hour course, you will earn a certificate, which you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Bill O’Neil, Partner and Hiring Committee Chair
“Law schools are fantastic at teaching students about the law; in contrast, the Law School Experience teaches students how to succeed in law school. The program is designed to provide practical skills that we believe will boost students’ grades and, ultimately, their employment prospects, which will, in turn, diversify and strengthen the legal profession.”

Training Contracts

Each year, Winston & Strawn London aims to take on trainees. We seek well-rounded, motivated, imaginative people with strong academics who will work hard for our clients, interact well with others in a close-knit team, and make meaningful contributions to our continued growth and success in London, as well as globally. We offer challenging work for high-profile, international clients in an energetic and supportive environment, whilst being part of a global firm with a reputation for delivering results.

We believe that our relatively small but rapidly growing London office offers something genuinely different. Our trainees are asked to carry out real legal work from day one, interact directly with clients, and contribute to all aspects of firm life. We rely on our trainees to help complete complex cross-border deals on time and on budget and win high-value, high-stakes disputes for our clients.

Our London office prides itself on a personable, down-to-earth working environment. Trainees have our full attention and support throughout their training contract and sit with a partner or an associate for each of the four seats. We take a flexible approach to training.

We only recruit ambitious individuals looking to build a long-term career at the firm. We want all of our trainees to stay with the firm upon qualification and continue to develop as associates with a view to ultimately become a partner. Consequently, we invest significant time and effort in our trainees and see them as critical to the promotion and success of the office.

Winston is committed to diversity and inclusion. Our diversity initiatives focus our efforts in the key areas of: recruiting, and retaining the most talented and diverse legal staff; promoting diversity on the basis of merit and performance; providing a broad array of professional development opportunities; and maintaining leadership throughout our diversity endeavours. For more information on our diversity and inclusion initiatives, click here.

Given the nature of our work in London, we employ bright and agile minds. We look for the following criteria when evaluating candidates: (i) common sense and integrity; (ii) enthusiasm and drive; (iii) interests outside of the law; (iv) strong academics; (v) commercial awareness; (vi) interpersonal skills with mindset of a team player; (vii) willingness to take responsibility; and (viii) flexibility.

Click here for a sample of the work we do in London. Trainees should expect to be involved in this type of work from the outset.

To secure a training contract you should first apply for our vacation scheme. 

VACATION SCHEME – SUMMER

You can get to know us through our one-week vacation scheme, designed for students who wish to apply for a training contract with the firm. It is intended to provide you with hands-on experience across our various practices, while exposing you to how our London office functions. On top of training, you will also enjoy attending our office social events. The one-week vacation scheme takes place in early June.

We accept vacation scheme applications from:

• Penultimate year students and graduates of all degree disciplines are eligible to apply
• Any other graduate wishing to commence a training contract in three years’ time. Training contract to commence from September 2026 onwards

Applications for the Summer 2023 Vacation scheme are now open for Autumn 2022. Please apply here.

For more information on training at Winston & Strawn London, please see our training brochure.

For students interested in our U.S. Summer Associate program, please refer to this page.

For information on how we store and use your data, visit our Europe Privacy Policy.

Près de 1,000 avocats partagent la même passion du droit au sein de Winston & Strawn LLP dans le Monde. Vingt praticiens spécialisés officient dans le bureau parisien au sein de quatre départements :

• Contentieux
• Arbitrage
• Corporate et Fusions & Acquisitions
• Droit Social

La diversité des domaines d’intervention du cabinet offre des possibilités d’accueil et d’évolution professionnelle très diversifiées.  Face à un secteur en constante mutation, notre cabinet est toujours très attentif aux candidatures qui lui sont soumises et recrute régulièrement des stagiaires-avocats.

La réalisation d’un stage au sein d’un cabinet international nécessite que le candidat dispose d’une excellente formation juridique (universitaire, idéalement complétée par une double formation, en grande école de commerce, à Sciences Po, ou un LLM) associée à un bon niveau d’anglais. Nous recherchons en priorité des stagiaires titulaires d’un M2 et admis au CRFPA. En outre, nous apportons une attention particulière à la personnalité du candidat, sa capacité d’écoute et de jugement, son volontarisme, sa rigueur ainsi que sa curiosité intellectuelle.

Au sein de notre cabinet, le stagiaire-avocat disposera d’une formation de grande qualité, et sera encadré par des équipes expérimentées et à dimension humaine.

Pour construire une relation pérenne avec vous et nourrir vos ambitions, le cabinet vous offre :

• L’opportunité de vous investir dans un grand cabinet international reconnu parmi les leaders du marché en France, en Europe et dans le Monde,
• La possibilité de pratiquer le droit avec un haut niveau d’exigence au sein d’équipes reconnues pour leur maîtrise de dossiers stratégiques et sensibles,
• L’opportunité d’acquérir autonomie et sens des responsabilités tout en bénéficiant d’un partage des expériences et des savoirs,
• La possibilité d’évoluer dans un environnement formateur, stimulant et innovant.

Si vous souhaitez nous rejoindre, veuillez adresser votre candidature à l’adresse email stagesparis@winston.com en y joignant votre CV, lettre de motivation et lettres de recommandations éventuelles.

Notre politique de protection des données est consultable via le lien ci-après : https://www.winston.com/en/privacy/eu-privacy-notice.html.

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Winston’s Paris office includes practitioners across core practice areas:

• Litigation
• International Arbitration
• Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions/Finance

This provides ‘stagiaires-avocats’ with opportunities to learn about a wide range of practice areas and the specialized skills required for each. In an exciting and dynamic environment, we are dedicated to our internship program for law students, accepting applications year round.

“Stage” applicants must have an excellent legal education (university degree, ideally coupled with another degree such as a business school degree, a Sciences-Po degree, or an LLM) combined with suitable English language skills. Priority is given to applicants with a Master’s degree who have passed the French law school admission test (CRFPA) or equivalent. Additionally, we focus on the character of the applicant, their listening and analytical abilities, motivation, attention to detail, and intellectual curiosity.

Winston “stagiaire-avocats” receive first-rate training under the supervision of an experienced team of attorneys, in a full-service office whose size renders it accessible and welcoming. At Winston “stagiaire-avocats” develop enduring relationships while attaining career goals by:

• becoming involved in the work of a large international law firm that is recognized among the top law firms in France, in Europe, and worldwide;
• working with teams who excel at managing strategic and sensitive matters, while practicing law to high standards;
• developing autonomy and a sense of responsibility while benefiting from shared experiences and knowledge;
• being part of an educational, stimulating, and innovative legal environment.

If you would like to join us, please send your application to stagesparis@winston.com, including a cover letter, resume, and potential reference letters.

For information on how we store and use your data, visit our EU Privacy Policy.

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT (all attorney levels)

Training, both formal and informal, is an essential part of an attorney’s growth. The Winston University Development System promotes peak performance at every stage by delivering training at optimal career points. Winston University is a world-class series of legal and professional skills training programs led by Winston partners, associates, firm leadership, and industry experts. Our courses provide attorneys and staff with a well-rounded knowledge base and practice-specific tools.

Attorneys receive tailored support throughout their career—from summer associate to partner—with a global, holistic approach that fosters innovation, a competitive edge, diversity and inclusion, and our core values. We provide hundreds of live and virtual professional development opportunities, including optional coaching services, career planning and stress management workshops, and CLE training options. We embrace a culture of learning and we will help you become the best you can be.

Winston Jumpstart: Junior Associates (Years 1-2)
Jumpstart is our junior level legal and professional skills curriculum.

• Jumpstart Orientation – Professional skills training from client service to project management.
• Litigation Jumpstart – Comprehensive training in core topics and skills applicable to the firm’s litigation services and sectors, including legal writing, motions practice, and written and oral discovery.
• Transactional Jumpstart – Comprehensive training in core skills applicable to the firm’s transactional services and sectors, including performing due diligence, drafting transactional documents, and preparing for and conducting closings.
• Associates in the Environmental, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Real Estate, Tax, and Trusts & Estates practice groups and sectors have departmental curricula that supplement a selection of courses in Transactional and Litigation Jumpstart.

Winston Edge: Mid-Level Associates (Years 3-5)
Edge is the firm’s mid-level transactional, litigation, and professional skills training program.

• Edge Intensive – a two-day program offering third-year associates training on topics such as management, business development, and the economics of a global law firm.
• Mid-level litigation associates receive year-round training focused on more advanced skills, including oral argument and trial advocacy.
• Mid-level transactional associates receive training focused on more advanced skills, including effective contract drafting and negotiation skills.

Winston Accelerate: Senior Associates (Years 6+)
Accelerate is the firm’s senior-level transactional, litigation, and professional skills training program.

• Accelerate Intensive – a two-day program for sixth-year associates designed to propel associates to the next level in their careers. Training topics include planning for partnership, creating value for clients, project management, and managing teams.

Leadership Lab: Partners

• Global New Partner Training program
• Partner Master Classes on business development, leadership, performance management, and advanced legal skills

Resources for All Class Levels

• Our in-house Director of Coaching who can work with attorneys confidentially to support career and personal goals
• Winston Mini MBA – financial literacy training
• Diversity and inclusion training
• Technology skills training
• Pro Bono opportunities and training
• Benchmarks that clearly articulate practice group expectations, and a tailored training curriculum for associates
• Formal training for attorneys in each corporate, transactional and litigation practice group on substantive skills, and recent legal developments unique to the firm’s services and sectors including Real Estate, Tax, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Healthcare, Antitrust, IP/Patent, White Collar & Regulatory Investigations, Labor & Employment, and others
• Access to thousands of online CLE courses and programs offered by our partner organizations

People @ Winston

The diverse personalities and strengths of our people are the foundation of Winston & Strawn. If you decide to spend next summer with our firm, you’ll be joining a team of attorneys and staff who bring a diversity of experiences and approaches to achieve results for our clients. 

View this brief video in which Lisa McLafferty, Winston’s Chief Talent Officer, explains that people are the foundation of the firm’s strong, supportive, and inclusive culture.

The experiences of our people go well beyond their professional endeavors, whether its piloting planes, climbing Everest, and trekking to Machu Picchu, or playing in  rock bands, owning a wine company and authoring books.

Winston attorneys and staff are also active in community and charitable endeavors, serving in leadership roles with organizations such as the NALP Foundation, and Reading Between the Lines,  and working together for nonprofits such as Everybody Wins and Martha’s Table.

We are confident that your unique personality and strengths would be an asset to Winston should you choose to join us. 

Sofia Arguello, New York, Partner
“In the end, people make up a firm, and the people at Winston are the type of people you want to work with and for.”

WORK-LIFE @ WINSTON

We invite you to read more about the hands-on work experience available to our summer associates, our firm’s training and mentoring resources, our commitment to pro bono programs and diversity and inclusion initiatives, and the many other benefits and perks we offer to our attorneys. You can read about a Week in the Life of Two Winston Associates here. 

REAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Winston summer associates gain exposure to a wide range of Practice and Industry Areas through real work assignments. Students gain hands-on experience through assisting with and attending depositions, hearings, arbitrations, mediations, trials, negotiations, closings, witness interviews, and government meetings, as well as shadowing attorneys for designated periods of time.

Our Assignment Committee maintains a database of available projects and works to ensure that each summer associate has equal opportunities and access to quality work. Projects are submitted by partners and associates and range from simple and straightforward to more substantive and time consuming.

Here is what the survey respondents had to say about Winston in the 2021 Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms:

• “The work is interesting and really cutting edge.”
• “The Firm has extensive training in place for junior associates, with more targeted and helpful training programs as associates become more senior.”
• “The general cultural atmosphere of the firm is one of collegiality, collaboration, and honest concern for each other.”

Angela Smedley, Partner, New York
“When I returned to Winston after my clerkship, I was able to put my enhanced legal writing skills and procedural knowledge to use right away.” 

ADVISING AND MENTORING
Winston summer associates are assigned an advisor who serves as your first point of contact and guide throughout the program. Summer associates also receive informal feedback throughout the summer in addition to a formal mid-summer and final review.

New attorneys who join Winston after law school participate in the firm’s formal mentoring program, which is an essential component of the core curriculum for our associates. Our mentoring program is designed to enhance your learning and development at each stage of your career and to foster connections with more senior attorneys. All first- through third-year and lateral associates in their first year at the firm, are paired with a mentor. Associates fourth year and up can participate as either a mentee or mentor.

Jeff Huelskamp, Partner, Chicago
“The culture of collaboration, education, and mentorship was apparent when I first walked into Winston’s doors. The great friends I gained through my summer associate class and across the firm are now my talented colleagues. Learning from others is key to being successful at the firm, and this is much easier when you work with people who are your friends.”

In addition, there are numerous opportunities for young attorneys at Winston to gain leadership skills and have a voice in firm initiatives, from membership on the Associates, Summer Program, Winston for Good, and other firm committees, to participation in our affinity groups for female, minority, and LGBTQ attorneys.

PRO BONO
Community service is ingrained in our firm’s culture, and we encourage our summer associates to participate in Winston’s substantial Pro Bono activities. This work serves a critical need in the community, while providing valuable legal experience.

Many of our incoming associates volunteer through Winston’s Pro Bono Fellowship program the summer after their law school graduation. This program provides a $10,000 stipend for incoming associates performing 300 hours of pro bono legal services at local public interest law organizations of their choice.

Elizabeth Ireland, Partner, Charlotte
“Winston is committed to ensuring that top-quality representation is available to people who cannot afford legal services. I’ve regularly appeared in court as a guardian ad litem, argued an animal rights case, helped an immigrant win a custody case, and assisted LGBTQ couples with powers of attorney. I’m grateful the firm understands that pro bono work makes its attorneys stronger advocates for all types of clients.”

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
At Winston & Strawn, Diversity and Inclusion are critically important. Our practice is global, and we believe our firm should reflect the diverse world we serve. Diverse and inclusive teams create a stronger organization and produce the best results for our clients.

Winston’s Diversity Scholarship program has provided more than $1 million to diverse law students since 2004. Scholarship recipients participate in our Summer Associate Program and receive $25,000 to help offset the expense of their legal education. Learn more here.

Winston was named a Women in Law Empowerment Forum Gold Standard Firm for 2018 and 2019. For 14 consecutive years, the firm has scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.”

Shawn Obi, Partner, Los Angeles
“Participation in Winston’s Diverse Associate Sponsorship Program has given me access to the most influential decision-makers at the firm, which is both inspirational and empowering.”

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility—encompassing respect for people, wise use of profits, and care for our planet—governs many aspects of Winston’s strategic vision for our firm.

In 2017, we implemented a formal CSR program—Winston for Good—that aligns with our values and heritage and fosters a culture that intentionally makes an impact. Winston for Good encompasses corporate and charitable giving, pro bono legal services, volunteer opportunities in the community, diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and employee engagement initiatives.

BENEFITS, PERKS, RESOURCES

• Life, medical, vision, disability, and dental insurance
• 20 weeks of paid parental leave
• Flexible vacation time 
• $10,000 stipend prior to taking bar exam
• Reimbursement for bar review classes, exam fee, and annual registration
• First 100 hours of pro bono work credited toward annual billable hours target
• World-class training programs tailored by attorney level and career stage
• Firmwide new associate orientation
• Career planning, professional development, and peak performance coaching

To further support our attorneys’ long-term development and engagement, Winston offers the most progressive and expansive Working Parents Program in the industry.

Brian Nisbet, Partner, Chicago
“The importance of the firm’s parental leave policy cannot be understated. It allows you to focus on the most important thing going on in your life at that moment—having a new baby. I have taken time with all three of my kids, and have felt fully supported by the firm and those I work with. It is a great benefit, and one that I think is unique compared to other law firms.”