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.

Current Openings for 2026

We are currently accepting applications for our 2026 1L Summer Associate positions. Applications will remain open until filled (typically the end of January), and we will review and interview on a rolling basis. Please note that we have limited openings for 1L summer, and candidates who apply for 1L are welcome to apply again for our 2L program. Click on “Law Student Positions” at the top of this page to apply.

Our goal is to interview for the 1L positions after finals, in order to allow for students to focus on their studies. If you face earlier decision deadlines with other employers, however, please note it in your cover letter or reach out after submitting your application so we can take timing into account.

Our 2027 2L Summer Associate positions will be posted in February 2026, following the completion of our 1L process. We will post to provide transparency about our needs and application process since we know some other employers will begin interviewing at that time. While applications may be submitted once the posting goes live, at this time we anticipate most interviews will take place later in the spring.

We are also now accepting applications for a 2L Law Clerk in our Fargo office. Click on “Law Student Positions” at the top of this page to apply.

Our 2026 2L positions in Des Moines, Minneapolis, Bismarck and Madison offices are filled. We are no longer seeking applications. 

2025 Coordinated Interview Programs

Boston College Law School (Minneapolis) 6/26/2025

Drake Law School (Des Moines) Direct Apply or Resume Collect

Howard University School of Law (Minneapolis) 5/29/2025

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

Lavender Law Career Fair (All Offices) 7/28/2025

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

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (Minneapolis) 6/18/2025

University of Chicago Law School (Minneapolis) 6/25/2025

University of Iowa College of Law (Des Moines and Minneapolis) 6/4/2025 and 6/9/2025

University of Michigan Law School (Minneapolis) 6/5/2025

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

University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minneapolis) 6/23/2025

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

Washington University School of Law (Minneapolis) 6/18/2025

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

Abdi Ali

Abdi Ali was a 2023 and 2024 Summer Associate and is now an Associate at Fredrikson.

A typical day as a summer associate at Fredrikson offers meaningful networking opportunities, engaging social events, and the chance to work on a wide range of substantive legal projects.

"During the summer program, I had the privilege of exploring my interests across various practice areas through meaningful, hands-on experiences. When I began my first summer, I was uncertain about which area of law I wanted to pursue. The program provided an invaluable opportunity to engage with diverse projects, ranging from drafting a response to a motion for default judgment to preparing corporate governance documents, as well as conducting research on topics such as eminent domain laws and state cannabis regulations. Each day, I was motivated to learn and challenge myself, gaining significant insight into what life as an associate would entail within different practice groups. The intentional design of the summer program is evident and is precisely why I believe it is second to none.

My initial interest in Fredrikson was sparked by the firm’s strong commitment to pro bono work. Fredrikson’s dedication to creating a positive impact is demonstrated through the thousands of pro bono hours contributed by its attorneys, proof that this commitment is more than words. During the summer program, I had the privilege of working alongside attorneys on pro bono projects related to immigration and tax appeal matters. This experience not only allowed me to engage in areas of law that were new to me but also provided an opportunity to meaningfully serve my community.

The opportunity to network with attorneys at all levels of practice experience was another highlight of my time as a summer associate. Nearly every day, I was able to meet for coffee or lunch with attorneys ranging from junior associates to senior partners, which allowed me to learn about various practice areas through their lived experiences. Beyond professional interactions, the program offered opportunities to connect socially. I joined the firm’s softball team, and while we didn’t make a deep playoff run, it was a fun experience and a great way to meet others in the legal community. Additionally, during my first summer, I attended the firm’s biannual retreat at Grand View Lodge in northern Minnesota. The weekend-long event provided an excellent chance to network and build relationships across the firm, with activities ranging from golf to relaxing by the lake. It was an enjoyable and memorable experience with colleagues and their families.

Throughout the summer program, I developed strong relationships with future colleagues and gained experience working on a wide range of legal matters across both transactional and litigation practice groups. Fredrikson’s summer program was thoughtfully designed to help me explore my interests while deepening my legal knowledge and practical skills. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and my time as a summer associate. Today, I can confidently say that the program had a profound impact on my development as an attorney, and I highly recommend it to law students seeking an exceptional learning experience."

Danielle Heine

Danielle Heine was a 2024 Summer Associate and is now an Associate at Fredrikson.

"My summer at Fredrikson was a perfect blend of substantive legal work, mentorship, and camaraderie. I left the program not only with stronger skills and clearer career goals but also with lasting friendships and a deep appreciation for Fredrikson’s supportive culture.

The summer program is incredibly well managed by a team of experienced legal professionals who ensure each summer associate has a meaningful and positive experience. For example, the program begins with multiple days of orientation that provide all of the tools needed for a successful summer. From understanding the firms’ service standards to learning how to navigate the document management system, I left orientation feeling prepared to take on substantive work.

One thing that makes Fredrikson’s summer associate program stand out, is having the opportunity to take on projects from different practice areas. This helped me navigate my interests and ultimately find my practice group. Attorneys from all practice areas submitted assignments into an online portal and I selected projects that interested me. Throughout my summer, I was able to work on tax issues, business litigation cases, M&A deals and pro bono immigration proceedings. This helped me figure out which practice areas I enjoyed, and it also helped me learn how pro bono work could fit into my career. When I started as an associate, I was able to hit the ground running and team up with attorneys I had worked with as a summer associate to take on pro bono cases early in my career.  

Another highlight of my summer was taking advantage of incredible mentorship. Attorneys consistently took time to answer my questions, invite me into client meetings, and provide thoughtful feedback on my work. I felt that my contributions mattered, and that the attorneys I worked with were genuinely invested in my development.

Outside of the office, Fredrikson made sure our summer was just as memorable. Whether it was a tour of First Avenue, bonding with colleagues during trivia night, or celebrating a personal milestone such as engagements and birthdays, I always felt part of a community that valued connection as much as excellent legal work. These experiences helped me build authentic relationships with my peers and mentors, making the transition into professional life feel less daunting and much more exciting.

I am truly grateful for my summer at Fredrikson. For any law student eager to dive into meaningful work while being surrounded by people who truly care, Fredrikson is the place to be.

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."

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."