Latham & Watkins 2028 summer associate application guide

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2028 summer associates
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Applying to Latham & Watkins for the 2028 summer associate program? Check your resume against a Latham-style screen below, then read when the window opens and closes, what goes in the package, how the virtual assessment fits in and when offers come.

A law student working on a laptop at a small folding desk in the sunroom of a rented house on a bright winter morning, potted plants on the sill and a printed cover letter with pen edits beside the laptop.
Latham takes 2028 summer associate applications from Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 29, 2027, and a complete package includes a cover letter.

Key facts

  • When it opens: Applications for the 2028 2L and joint 2027 1L and 2028 2L programs open on Sunday, Nov 1, 2026.1,2
  • Deadline: The window closes on Friday, Jan 29, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Interviews run on a rolling basis inside it, so apply early.1,2
  • Who it is for: All Class of 2029 students at ABA-accredited law schools. Only the Texas offices hire 1Ls for summer 2027.1,2
  • Documents: The online application, a cover letter, your resume and your law school transcript. An undergraduate transcript is required for IP Litigation and optional for the other programs.1
  • How to apply: Direct application is the only way to apply. Latham stopped recruiting through law school on-campus interview programs in 2025.1,7
  • Assessment: Every applicant takes a virtual assessment of the skills and behaviors Latham looks for, then gets written feedback on their strengths.5,18
  • Offers: You become eligible for an offer once you submit your complete first-term transcript, semester or quarter.2
  • Bonus: Students who accept an offer through these programs are eligible for a US$50,000 signing bonus, on terms. Summer pay is $9,375 semi-monthly.1,2,4

The 2L programs outside Texas ask you to spend your 2027 1L summer outside private-sector employment, then join Latham for ten weeks in 2028. Read the program terms on the posting before you apply.1

Check your resume before you apply

Summer Associate at Latham & Watkins

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Read against the Summer Associate role at Latham & Watkins, the way the first screen reads it.

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What the Latham & Watkins online application looks like

  1. Get to know the firm first

    Latham runs "Link with Latham" events from September to January, on campus, in its offices and online, before and during the application window. It also offers job simulations on Forage, with legal tasks written by its lawyers, and an interview preparation site run with Cappfinity. None of these is required, but they give you specific things to say in your cover letter and interviews. Firms now recruit in the first semester of law school, so this is the time to start.2,3,16,9

  2. Pick your program

    There are three. The Texas offices run a joint program: ten weeks in summer 2027 and again in 2028. Every other US office, plus Hong Kong and Singapore, hires for a ten-week 2L summer in 2028, with your 1L summer spent outside private-sector employment. IP Litigation runs its own 2L program in select US offices and wants a technical background.1

  3. Build the package

    Submit the online application, a cover letter, your resume and your law school transcript. IP Litigation applicants also need an undergraduate transcript; for everyone else it is optional. Latham's Recruiting Committee weighs academic and leadership achievements, life experiences, relevant work, and a desire to practice at a global firm and in your chosen office long term, so make the cover letter say why that office.1

  4. Take the virtual assessment

    All applicants take a virtual assessment of the skills and behaviors Latham says lawyers need to excel there, and receive written feedback on their strengths afterwards. Latham's own step-by-step guide (2023) describes it as a simulated pro bono case based on a real matter, plus behavioral preference-type questions. Law school guidance on these law firm assessments puts them at 20 to 30 minutes, with no right answers to study, and says firms may weigh the results alongside grades and interviews.5,17,18

  5. After you submit

    Interviews run on a rolling basis around your exams, and timing and process vary by office. You become eligible for an offer once your complete first-term transcript is in, so add fall grades as soon as your school releases them. Have a 5 to 10 page writing sample ready too, from your legal writing course once you have worked in your professor's feedback, in case an interviewer asks for one.2,1,10,14

What the application asks

Program Pick one
Texas 1L and 2L, the 2L program in other US offices and abroad, or 2L IP Litigation.
Online application Required
Through Latham's US summer associate portal, open Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 29, 2027.
Cover letter Required
Say why Latham and why the office you chose.
Resume Required
One page, law school first.
Law school transcript Required
Offers wait for your complete first-term transcript.
Undergraduate transcript IP Litigation only
Required for IP Litigation, optional for the other programs.
Virtual assessment All applicants
Required of every applicant, with written feedback on your strengths.

The program, document and transcript steps come from Latham's own pages; the assessment comes from Latham's own step-by-step guide and its recruiting committee in Chambers Associate. Check each field when you open the form.1,2,5,18

Latham resume and cover letter checklist

  • One page, saved as a PDF, in a 10 to 12 point font.
  • Law school first, written as "J.D. Candidate, May 2029", then your college and degree.
  • A law GPA only in the exact form your school allows, never rounded, once you have one.
  • At least one line that shows leadership, with a number in it.
  • Experience newest first, each bullet starting with a verb.
  • A cover letter that names the program, the office and why you want to practice there long term.
  • For IP Litigation, your technical degree near the top and the undergraduate transcript ready.
  • Fall grades added as soon as they are out: offers wait for your complete first-term transcript.

What to put on it

Latham reads a cover letter as well as your resume, and its criteria include leadership, life experiences and a long-term link to the office. A law resume keeps to one page with law school first. The examples below are Intervyo rewrites of common 1L lines, not questions from the form.1,12,13

  • Education: Law school first, then college: J.D. Candidate with the month and year, honors and activities under each school.
  • Experience: Jobs newest first, each bullet starting with a verb that says what you did yourself.
  • Leadership: Roles where you led people or a project, since Latham names leadership achievements in its criteria.
  • Cover letter: Why Latham, why the office long term, and which practices you want to explore.

Example questions and how to answer them

Education line"Rewrite this education line: "UCLA Law, JD 2029.""12,13,2
  1. 1Law school name and city on the first line.
  2. 2Write the degree as "J.D. Candidate" with the month and year.
  3. 3Add a GPA only in the exact form your school allows, never rounded.
  4. 4Put honors and activities under the school.

Tip: In November you have no law grades yet. That is expected: Latham's offers wait for your complete first-term transcript.

Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)

Intervyo example.

University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, CA J.D. Candidate, May 2029 Activities: Business Law Association; 1L Moot Court

University of Houston, Houston, TX B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, magna cum laude, May 2025

Leadership"Rewrite this bullet: "Led a team at my last job.""5,1,12,15
  1. 1Name the team and its size.
  2. 2Say what you were responsible for.
  3. 3Give one result with a number.
  4. 4Keep it to one or two lines.

Tip: Latham looks for leadership achievements and qualities such as grit and teamwork. Interviewers notice when a strong line cannot be explained, so pick one you can talk about for two minutes.

Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)

Intervyo example.

Led a 5-person analyst team through a supplier contract renegotiation at a regional energy company; built the pricing comparison that cut annual costs by $1.2M.

Cover letter"Rewrite this cover letter opening: "I am writing to apply for a summer associate position at your firm.""1,3
  1. 1Name the program and the office in the first sentence.
  2. 2Give one reason tied to your own story.
  3. 3Say why you want to practice in that city long term.
  4. 4Keep the paragraph to three or four sentences.

Tip: Latham weighs a desire to practice at a global firm and in the selected office long term. Make the office reason concrete: family, past work or a market you know.

Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)

Intervyo example.

I am applying to Latham's 2028 2L Summer Associate Program in Houston, where I grew up and worked for three years as an engineer on pipeline projects. Those projects showed me how much of an energy deal turns on the contracts behind it, and I want to build a transactional practice in Houston for the long term. Latham's Unassigned Program would let me try energy and project finance work before I choose.

Languages and interests"Rewrite this interests line: "Reading, travel, sports.""12
  1. 1Be specific enough that someone could ask a real question.
  2. 2Pick two or three you could talk about for a minute.
  3. 3Put languages with fluency on their own line.

Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)

Intervyo example.

Languages: Spanish (fluent) Interests: Long-distance cycling, Texas barbecue, restoring vintage radios

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How long to hear back after the online application

Latham interviews on a rolling basis, fits interviews around your academic commitments and lets timing vary by office. You can be considered for an offer once your complete first-term transcript is in.2

  1. Mar 2025 (summer 2026 cycle)

    Latham

    Latham stopped taking part in law school on-campus interview programs and asked all candidates to apply directly.7

  2. 2025 (summer 2026)

    All firms, NALP survey

    85% of 2L summer offers went out before July. May 2025 was the busiest month at 36%, then June at 29%.8

  3. Summer 2026

    Latham summer class

    398 summer associates: 373 2Ls and 25 1Ls. New York had 117 and Washington, D.C. 90.4,6

  4. Nov 1, 2026 (summer 2028)

    Latham, all US offices

    The 2028 2L and joint Texas 1L and 2L applications opened.1,2

  5. Jan 8 to 13, 2027 (summer 2028)

    Harvard Early Interview Program

    A virtual program for private sector employers, for the Class of 2029's 2L summer jobs.11

  6. Jan 29, 2027 (summer 2028)

    Latham

    The application window closes at 5:00 p.m. ET.1

Latham's timeline says timing and process may vary by office, so two offices can move at different speeds on the same application season.2

Best guessApply in November and take the virtual assessment soon after, so your file is complete when fall grades land. Expect first interviews from late November and offers from January 2027.

What happens after the online application

  1. Online applicationYou are here

    This page. The online application, cover letter, resume and law school transcript, from Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 29, 2027.1,2

  2. Virtual assessment

    Every applicant takes it, then gets written feedback on their strengths.5,18

  3. Screening, then callback interviews

    Interviews with Recruiting Committee members and other lawyers, then a callback with several lawyers over several hours.5,2

  4. Offer

    Once your complete first-term transcript is in, with a US$50,000 signing bonus on acceptance.2,1

Texas 1L and 2L program vs the 2L program

Latham recruits two ways this cycle. Texas hires 1Ls for both summers; every other US office hires for the 2L summer only.

Offices

Texas 1L and 2L

Latham's Texas offices.1,2

2L program (other offices)

All other US offices, plus Hong Kong and Singapore.1

Summers at Latham

Texas 1L and 2L

Ten weeks in 2027 and ten weeks in 2028.1

2L program (other offices)

Ten weeks in 2028.1

Your 1L summer

Texas 1L and 2L

At Latham in Texas.1

2L program (other offices)

An opportunity outside private-sector employment.1

Signing bonus

Texas 1L and 2L

US$50,000 on acceptance, on terms.1

2L program (other offices)

US$50,000 on acceptance, on terms.1

2028 summer associate status

Latham's summer is ten weeks in its Unassigned Program, with an assigned mentor and a firm-wide Summer Academy. All 289 2L summer associates in 2024 received offers.1,4,6

FAQ

When do Latham 2028 summer associate applications open?

On Nov 1, 2026. The window for the 2028 2L and joint 2027 1L and 2028 2L programs runs to Friday, Jan 29, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. ET, with interviews on a rolling basis.1,2

Can 1Ls work at Latham in summer 2027?

Only in Texas. The joint 2027 1L and 2028 2L program is in Latham's Texas offices. Elsewhere, you spend your 1L summer outside private-sector employment and join Latham in 2028.1,2

Does Latham need a cover letter?

Yes. A complete package is the online application, a cover letter, your resume and your law school transcript. IP Litigation applicants add an undergraduate transcript.1

Does Latham have an online assessment?

Yes. All applicants take a virtual assessment of the skills and behaviors Latham looks for, and get written feedback on their strengths afterwards.5,18

Does Latham interview at OCI?

No. Latham left law school on-campus interview programs in 2025, and direct application is now the only way to apply.7,1

What does Latham look for?

Academic and leadership achievements, life experiences that shaped your values and goals, relevant academic, clinical or work experience, and a desire to practice at a global firm and in your chosen office long term.1,5

When does Latham make offers?

Once you submit your complete first-term transcript. Interviews before that run on a rolling basis around your exams.2

Online application at other firms

Sources

Firm pages first, then dated candidate reports. Last checked Nov 4, 2026.

  1. 1Latham & Watkins: United States: Summer Associates
  2. 2Latham & Watkins: Link with Latham: Application Timeline (Oct 2026)
  3. 3Latham & Watkins: United States: Beginning Your Legal Career
  4. 4Flo Recruit: Latham & Watkins firm profile (updated Oct 2026)
  5. 5Chambers Associate: Latham & Watkins firm profile: Get Hired (Sep 2026) · prep site
  6. 6Vault: Latham & Watkins: Summer Law Program · prep site
  7. 7Above the Law: Elite Biglaw Firm Will No Longer Participate In Law School On-Campus Interview Programs (Mar 2025) · press
  8. 8NALP: Law Student Recruiting Moves Earlier as Employer-Sponsored Hiring Expands (Jan 2026) · press
  9. 9LSAC: The History of Big Law Recruitment Timelines (Jun 2026) · press
  10. 10Berkeley Law Career Development Office: Class of 2028 2L BigLaw Recruiting · prep site
  11. 11Harvard Law School Office of Career Services: Recruiting Programs for Employers · prep site
  12. 12Penn Carey Law Career Planning & Professionalism: Do's and Don'ts for 1L Resume Writing · prep site
  13. 13Boston University School of Law Career Development Office: Resume Handbook · prep site
  14. 14Yale Law School Career Development Office: Writing Samples, References & Transcripts · prep site
  15. 15Chambers Associate: OCI advice from the interviewers · prep site
  16. 16Latham & Watkins (Cappfinity): Latham Interview Prep
  17. 17Berkeley Law Career Development Office: CDO: EIW Law Firm Assessments (2021) · prep site
  18. 18Latham & Watkins, via the Wayback Machine: Recruiting step-by-step application process, US (archived Nov 2023)

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