Law Students

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Law Student Positions

Summer Program

Fredrikson’s summer associate program is designed to offer a clear understanding of what it is like to practice law at Fredrikson, while also providing you the opportunity to meet people at the firm, hone your skills, and enjoy the summer.

Upcoming Openings

We will welcome applications for our 2026 2L Summer Associate positions from students graduating in December 2026 or spring of 2027. We anticipate applications for our 2026 2L positions opening on or about May 1, 2025.

Beginning May 1, Summer Associate applicants may apply to our 2026 2L positions in one of two ways:

• By submitting an application to one of our posted positions directly through our website, or
• By applying through a coordinated interview or resume collect program

Please only formally apply ONCE per position; applications will be equally considered through all avenues.

Early Exploration

We request that you wait to submit a formal application until our applications are open on our website. In the meantime, to gain insights into our firm and summer program, we invite you to attend one of our “Meet and Greet” programs which will be available both virtually and in-person for our Minneapolis and Des Moines offices.

Specific dates and times of our Meet and Greet programs will be posted here in the coming weeks. Please check back for a registration link.

2025 Coordinated Interview Programs

Boston College Law School (Minneapolis)

Drake Law School (Des Moines)

Howard University School of Law (Minneapolis)

Indiana University, Mauer School of Law (Minneapolis) ) 6/12/2025

Lavender Law Career Fair (All Offices)

Mitchell Hamline School of Law (Minneapolis) ) 6/16/2025

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (Minneapolis)

University of Chicago Law School (Minneapolis)

University of Iowa College of Law (Des Moines and Minneapolis)

University of Michigan Law School (Minneapolis) 6/4/2025

University of Minnesota Law School (Minneapolis) 6/24/2025

University of St Thomas School of Law (Minneapolis)

University of Wisconsin Law School (Minneapolis) 7/22/2025

Washington University School of Law (Minneapolis

What To Expect

Summer associates receive projects from every area in their office location either through our project portal or through organic assignments with opportunities to work on and observe litigation and transactional practices. The program is flexible. If you are interested in a particular area of law practiced within your office, you should be able to get projects from and/or exposure to that area.

Summer associates routinely have the opportunity to perform legal research and draft litigation and transactional documents. Summer associates are also invited to assist with pro bono projects, with assistance provided as needed by a supervising attorney. Throughout the summer, summer associates are invited on field trips with attorneys, which could include the opportunity to attend closings, court arguments, witness depositions and/or attend client meetings.

Summer associates, like lawyers at Fredrikson, are largely autonomous, with the main requirement being that they must be able to meet the client’s needs. They spend a portion of each day in non-billable activity. This can include social events or simply getting to know their colleagues.

Each Friday morning, there is a summer associate group meeting. The meeting is a chance for summer associates, workflow coordinators and recruiting professionals to come together and discuss the events of the week. Each week, we also invite guests from various legal and business departments. In addition, summer associates are invited to attend monthly department meetings. This is another opportunity to meet attorneys and learn about the departments.

The summer program is designed to allow for summer associates to have consistent feedback on projects. Assigning attorneys have the opportunity to provide written feedback on every project a summer associate completes, in addition to conversation and in-the-moment feedback. The firm also conducts individual mid-summer and end-of-summer check-in reviews with each summer associate. These various sources of feedback and evaluation allow for transparency and support continued professional development through the summer program and beyond.

Finally, each summer associate can shape his/her own experiences. Most Fredrikson attorneys work with their literal and/or virtual doors open and summer associates are welcome to stop by. Summer associates often use that opportunity to seek out particular types of projects or field trips, to explore an interest or just to talk with a future colleague.

Fredrikson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Typical Day

MaKennah Little

MaKennah Little was a 2023 Summer Associate and is now an Associate at Fredrikson.

"During my summer at Fredrikson & Byron, I had the opportunity to work on projects across many practice areas. It is difficult to describe a 'typical' day as a summer associate because every day brought unique experiences. Fredrikson’s summer program stands out to me because of the hands-on nature of projects. Over the course of the summer, I was able to attend field trips to court hearings, mediations, legislative sessions, city council meetings, and more. In the office, I was able to shadow client meetings in person and over the phone, draft motions, compose emails for clients, and tackle complicated research projects. Each day and week at Fredrikson flew by because attorneys constantly included me in interesting activities.

Throughout the summer, my confidence as a summer associate grew as Fredrikson provided ample opportunities for summer associates to receive feedback. I loved that after each assignment, attorneys provided written feedback through an online portal as this allowed me to improve with each project. Summer associates also have assigned workflow coordinators who can seek feedback on their behalf and then discuss the feedback weekly. I found it very reassuring to know that I had thorough guidance as I began my career at Fredrikson.

I worked in the Des Moines office and, aside from work, I had the opportunity to get coffee or lunch with every attorney in that office. I felt supported by associates and shareholders alike and felt comfortable asking them questions about work and life, and never felt like I was bothering anyone when doing so."

Deqa Mohamed

Deqa Mohamed was a 2022 and 2023 Summer Associate and is now an Associate at Fredrikson.

"A typical day as a Fredrikson summer associate was an enriching blend of substantive work, networking opportunities, and enjoyable social events. Having the chance to participate in the summer program twice was a true privilege, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the firm's culture and diverse practice areas.

During my first summer, I embarked on a journey of exploration within the firm and worked on projects across different practice groups. From drafting an asset purchase agreement to researching topics spanning corporate governance to intellectual property, each task offered a new challenge and insight into various legal realms. Uncertain of which legal path to pursue initially, I was given the opportunity to work on a variety of cases and delve into different areas of law, refining my interests as I went.

In my second summer at Fredrikson, I arrived with a clearer vision of my interests within the legal field. With a better understanding of where my interests were, I proactively sought out projects in these areas. This proactive approach allowed me to shadow client meetings, gaining invaluable firsthand experience and insight into the intricacies of legal practice. My initial attraction to Fredrikson stemmed from its emphasis on pro bono work, which was reaffirmed as I continued to engage in a variety of pro bono cases throughout both summers. This commitment to serving the community not only aligned with my personal values but also provided me with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Networking also played a pivotal role in my summer experiences. I was able to connect with attorneys across the firm and explore new coffee shops and lunch spots. Their openness and willingness to share insights into their work and the firm's culture helped me navigate the firm with clarity and confidence. My summers were also full of fun social event such as the First Avenue tours and a weekend retreat at Grandview. These events gave us the opportunity to bond as summer associates and build a strong sense of community. I am immensely grateful for both of my summer experiences, and I am super excited to join the firm as an associate!"

Jeremy Ruppert

Jeremy Ruppert was a 2023 Summer Associate and is now an Immigration Attorney at Fredrikson.

"There is no typical day as a summer associate at Fredrikson, and for me, that was the best part! During my time, I experienced a collaborative and supportive work environment that encouraged me to explore various areas of law, contribute to meaningful projects, and build lasting relationships with my fellow summer associates and the firm’s talented attorneys. One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience was the opportunity to work on a wide array of projects: from litigation matters to corporate governance, and even a brief pitstop into international tax—an area I knew little about before the summer but have a newfound appreciation for! This variety was immensely valuable as I navigated my own interests and was given the ability to try many tasks with the support of expert attorneys in their field.

One memorable project I got to work on was drafting an asylum brief for a pro-bono client. Fredrikson’s dedication to pro-bono service is second to none, and I was honored to assist with this project because of my background in immigration law. In fact, the attorney who reached out called me specifically knowing about this particular interest, and throughout the summer, I had the chance to collaborate with fellow summer associates on other asylum pro-bono projects and assist them through the process.

The magnitude of an asylum brief cannot be understated, but nearly every project I had the chance to contribute to as a summer associate involved interesting, complex legal questions of high importance to the client. The attorneys I worked with not only allowed me to take projects and run with them, but they also looked to me for strategy and suggested courses of action. I felt empowered and able to add value in areas that mattered to clients, even at this early stage in my legal career. This is in large part due to the impressive amount of robust feedback I received throughout the summer. From substantive, written feedback on every project to multiple rounds of feedback on writing samples, the guidance I received was immensely valuable to my development as a writer, advocate, and future attorney.

Of course, being a summer associate was not just strictly legal work but was a ton of fun outside of the office as well. One of the highlights of the summer for me was joining the firm softball team! We played on Tuesday nights against other firms or government agencies in the Twin Cities, and while the games were friendly and accessible, they were also surprisingly competitive. Our team had a great time on the field and off the field often staying after games to hang out or get drinks at a local brewery. The best part of this was that I was able to invite my wife to play on the team with me! We had a great time together and with other members of the Fredrikson community. We also had a great time at Grand View Lodge. The retreat was a fantastic time to get out of the city and travel north to enjoy Minnesota’s lake life. It was also a great opportunity to meet people on a more personal level as the retreat is open to families. My wife and I really enjoyed meeting the “Fredrikson kids” and cruising on a pontoon ride across the lake.

Whether it was touring the First Avenue concert venue with the summer associate team or discussing new projects and brainstorming with my peers, Fredrikson fostered an exciting, enriching, and supportive culture during my time as a summer associate, and because of my summer, I am excited to continue my legal career with the firm."

Dylan Saul

Dylan Saul was a 2022 Summer Associate and is now an Associate at Fredrikson.

"Being a Fredrikson summer associate means experiencing life as an attorney at the Midwest’s top – and most fun! – law firm. For me, a typical day meant: 1) diving into diverse, substantive, associate-level work projects; 2) growing professionally by building relationships with mentors and co-workers; and 3) getting to know my future colleagues in and outside of the office.

One incredible perk of the Fredrikson summer associate experience is that you are guaranteed to work on interesting projects from every corner of the firm. Attorneys from all practice groups submit projects into a centralized portal, allowing summer associates to pick and choose from a broad array of learning opportunities. I recall getting to help with a pro bono immigration matter one morning, researching environmental regulations that afternoon, and signing off by sending a redlined contract to a supervisor that evening. The freedom to dabble in different practice areas helped me find what types of projects I really enjoy, and ultimately led me to my practice group. Fredrikson’s approach to the summer associate program reflects the firm’s mindset as a whole: try new things, learn as much as you can, and become a leader in the fields you are most passionate about.

Fredrikson’s summer associate program also stands out because attorneys and staff are incredibly generous with their time. If I had questions on a project, my supervising attorneys always welcomed my questions. If I wanted to sit in on a client call, they always encouraged me to do so. If I was curious about an attorney’s career path, the attorney would never hesitate to invite me to a coffee or a lunch. Most tellingly, after I finished a project, the supervising attorney always took time out of their day to meet with me, hear my thoughts, and give me feedback. This showed me that each attorney I worked with was invested in my professional development, valued my input, and wanted me to succeed. Finally, some of the most important relationships I developed were with Legal Administrative Assistants and other staff, who were all more than happy to take me under their wing and share their wealth of institutional knowledge about Fredrikson and the practice of law.

Fredrikson summer associates work hard, but we also have a lot of fun. Over the course of my summer, Fredrikson attorneys took our summer associate class on a boat cruise, treated us to a Loons soccer game, and rocked out with us during a concert at First Avenue. These experiences helped me get to know my future colleagues outside of the office, and also made me more confident being myself in the office. These networking opportunities also showed me that practicing law at Fredrikson means getting to work alongside people who truly care for each other, who bring their true selves to work, and who always make the most of every day together.

The Fredrikson summer associate experience is chock full of learning opportunities, meaningful contributions to substantive client work, and time spent with incredible mentors. I am very grateful for my summer experience, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to law students who are eager to dive into real legal practice!"