Overview
At Michael Best, careers are built on purpose, partnership, and possibility.
We invest in the next generation of legal and business talent. Whether you’re a law student, recent graduate, or undergraduate, you’ll find a welcoming environment where your curiosity is encouraged, your ideas are valued, and your growth is supported. Our student programs offer hands-on experience, mentorship from accomplished professionals, and opportunities to contribute to meaningful work.
We’re committed to helping you build a strong foundation for your career through structured learning, exposure to diverse practice areas, and a culture that celebrates initiative and collaboration. Here, you’ll gain practical skills, expand your network, and discover what it means to be part of a team that’s shaping the future of the legal profession.
Join us and start your career journey at a firm where your potential is recognized, your development is prioritized, and your success is powered by partnership.
Michael Best does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Please do not contact our attorneys or team members directly regarding candidates. Submissions made without prior authorization will not be eligible for placement fees.
Summer Associate Program
Michael Best’s Summer Associate Program is a critical component of the firm’s overall growth and diversification strategy. The firm is proud to recruit a wide array of talented students from across the country to work within our practice groups. As a summer associate, you will have the opportunity to work alongside Michael Best attorneys on client matters. We provide our summer associates with meaningful work experiences in a challenging, developmental environment.
FAQs
We encourage students to apply directly to Michael Best via our Careers page.
The average class size is 20 students.
Callback interviews generally take two hours, during which candidates meet with several of our attorneys from different practice groups. Callback interviews take place virtually.
We host summer associates in our offices nationwide, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Lincoln, Los Angeles, Madison, Milwaukee, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City.
We take pride in our responsibility to develop and grow our summer associates and lawyers. Summer associates participate in orientation and training during their first week at the firm. There are ongoing professional development opportunities offered throughout the summer including Access & Engagement seminars, practice area introductions, legal writing courses, a business of the law firm spotlight, and presentation skills. We also provide opportunities for our summer associates to become familiar with our clients’ facilities and products whenever possible.
Summer associates work on a wide range of challenging legal assignments similar to those given to new associates, which typically include legal research, analysis, and drafting. Summer associates are commonly invited to attend depositions, mediations, deal closings, client meetings, trials, and other professional activities and events. Projects are submitted by partners and senior associates and range from simple and straightforward to more substantive and time consuming.
Our summer associates join a team-oriented culture and experience deep levels of support and guidance. Each summer associate will be paired with a partner mentor and an associate advisor as a resource to turn to. The mentor’s primary responsibility is to provide help finding work assignments, to offer guidance on assignments, and to share insight into the intangibles of life at Michael Best. The advisor helps introduce you to the firm and office, both socially and professionally.
Summer associates receive two formal reviews, once at mid-summer and again at the end of the summer. Our attorneys provide informal feedback through everyday work experiences.
Each year our summer associates are invited to participate in a service day. Our communities have kept us going, so we make it a priority to give back.
EDGE Internship Summer Program (Engineer & Patent Scientist)
Michael Best invites engineering and science students who wish to explore the world of Intellectual Property (IP) to apply for a paid internship in our EDGE program. Our talented interns will have the opportunity to be placed at one of our offices across the country, and your location preferences can be prioritized via the online application. Hiring decisions will be made throughout the fall semester.
If accepted into our program, you will perform patent and technical research and writing. EDGE interns will also review patent applications, draft documents for attorney review, research and report on patent filings, and perform other duties and projects assigned by the intern’s direct report.
EDGE interns will work directly with our intellectual property professionals and be exposed to our patent engineer, scientist and agent program. Under the guidance of highly skilled professionals in the industry, you will develop your research and writing acumen and become well-versed in the latest technologies and technical developments. Michael Best will assign an experienced Intellectual Property professional to mentor you, help you set goals, and ensure you have access to all of the tools necessary to be successful and benefit from your time spent in our EDGE program. At the end of your internship, you will receive a formal performance appraisal and feedback.
FAQs
- Assigned IP mentors and advisors
- Competitive salaries
- Formal goal setting and evaluations
- Challenging work assignments, including patent research and writing
- Networking and social activities
- Passion for technology and a genuine interest in patent law
- Highly proficient research skills and demonstrated analytical ability
- Detail-oriented with excellent time management and follow-up skills
- Possesses strong initiative and is proactive in working with others
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
- Valid authorization to work in the U.S.
- Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Ph.D. students, or Post-Docs Competitive salaries
Michael Best is steadfastly committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination based upon age, race, religion, color, disability, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at 414.271.6560 or humanresources@michaelbest.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Business Support Internship Summer Program
Each summer, Michael Best hosts dynamic, self-starters who are interested in the legal industry and/or are planning to go to law school, for a paid internship with our Business Support Internship Summer Program. This internship allows students to work on a variety of critical projects and assignments, gaining invaluable experience in the legal industry, and exposure to the business of a law firm. Business Support Interns work closely with our internal teams in the following departments: Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Professional Development, Recruiting, Research Services & Competitive Intelligence, and Marketing & Business Development.
Applications typically open during the spring semester. Please contact careers@michaelbest.com for more information.
FAQs
Michael Best is steadfastly committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination based upon age, race, religion, color, disability, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at 414.271.6560 or humanresources@michaelbest.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.