2024 Charlotte 1L Power of Partnership Program

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.  Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

K&L Gates is looking forward to hosting our 2024 1L Power of Partnership Program in Charlotte.

Program Description

K&L Gates created the Power of Partnership Program in 2018 to offer outstanding learning experiences for law students while also increasing engagement with our clients. This program offers selected 1L students the unique opportunity to work for part of the summer in a K&L Gates office as a summer associate and part of the summer in-house with the legal team of a corporate client of the firm. For summer 2024, the Charlotte office will be partnering with our client, Sealed Air Corp.

In addition to a paid 1L summer associate position, our Power of Partnership Program participant will be eligible to earn an academic bonus of up to $25,000.

If earned, the academic bonus will be paid in three installments (less applicable deductions):

• A $5,000 payment upon the successful completion of the full K&L Gates 2024 Summer Program
• A $10,000 payment if you spend a minimum of eight weeks with the firm during the 2025 Summer Program, do not spend time working for another law firm during the summer, and receive and accept an offer of full-time employment with K&L Gates
• A $10,000 payment upon joining the firm as a full-time first year associate; this payment will be included in your first paycheck

Selection Criteria

When considering candidates, we will look at the following criteria:

• A demonstrated commitment to promoting and advocating for civil rights, diversity, and inclusion within your local community and more broadly. These terms will be construed and applied based on applicable law, using these general definitions: (1) “diversity” means the practice of including the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs in society, including underserved communities; and (2) “inclusion” means the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of individuals of all backgrounds.
• A strong interest in the offices’ practice areas, including Asset and Corporate Finance; Capital Markets; Corporate; Restructuring and Insolvency.
• Superior academic credentials and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team, and a commitment to the highest quality of client service.

Application Process

We will begin to review applications on a rolling basis after December 1, 2023, and the application period will close on January 31, 2024.

Please submit the following materials:

• A personal statement (500-word maximum) detailing why the Power of Partnership Program is of interest to you and how you have demonstrated a commitment to promoting civil rights, diversity, and/or inclusion in your school, workplace, and/or community. For example, you may wish to discuss factors such as:
  • Socioeconomic disadvantage
  • Perseverance and overcoming obstacles, including those faced by underserved communities (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, disability, religion, LGBTQ+, gender, or other groups) or other groups with which you identify
  • Family or personal adversity
  • Foreign language skills
  • First-generation college attendance
  • Leadership potential
  • Prejudice or discrimination
  • Efforts to promote civil rights or access to courts and benefits
  • Social hardships
  • Unique perspectives and experiences

This statement can serve as your cover letter.

• Resume or CV
• Undergraduate transcript (unofficial transcripts will be accepted)
• Graduate program transcripts (if applicable)
• A law school transcript (A link will be provided to update your transcript after the receipt of grades)

Additional Consideration

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after December 1, 2023; please do not wait until you have received your first term grades to submit your materials.
• While not required, if you have a personal connection to the office’s city or region, and if you would like to describe why you are interested in your additional office preferences, please include this information in your personal statement as well.

The weekly rate is currently expected to be $3,846.15. The K&L Gates Management Committee will determine the 2024 summer associate salary prior to the summer program start date and could vary by office based on factors, including but not limited to market factors and geographic location.
 

K&L Gates is an equal opportunity employer that does not exclude anyone from consideration for this program based on race, gender, or any other protected class. Preferences or quotas based on protected class are strictly prohibited.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world.  We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world. 

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.