Introducing 1L Students to the High-Impact World of Mergers & Acquisitions
Wilson Sonsini’s Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) practice advises innovative companies on many of the most complex and high-stakes deals in the market from founder-led exits to multibillion-dollar acquisitions in AI, technology, and life sciences. Our deal teams work efficiently, giving associates meaningful responsibility early and exposure to transactions that shape entire industries.
The 1L Intro to M&A Program and Networking Event offers first-year law students a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be part of this fast-paced, dynamic practice.
What You’ll Experience
Meet the Team
Join us in our San Francisco office to connect with partners and associates across the M&A group and learn how they built their careers in dealmaking.
How Deals Get Done: A Conversation with Our M&A Partners
Explore what M&A attorneys do at Wilson Sonsini, the types of deals we see, and how the practice is evolving today.
A Day in the Life: Junior M&A Associates
Get a real-world look at the early years of M&A practice, from core responsibilities to what the day-to-day work is actually like.
Networking Reception
A chance to meet attorneys, fellow students, and our recruiting team in person at our San Francisco office.
Eligibility
This program is open to all Bay Area first-year law students who are in the J.D. graduating class of 2028 at an ABA-accredited law school and who are interested in transactional work, entrepreneurship, technology, or high-growth companies. Lyft codes will be provided for local travel to our San Francisco office.
Registration
Registration is open to all, but space is limited. To register, please submit the Registration Form, upload the required documents noted below, and complete a Suited assessment. You will receive confirmation of your registration submission and be notified of your enrollment status in advance of the event.
As part of your registration, you will indicate your geographic preference. We recognize that your preferences may change over time, so please send us an update if they do.
Requirements
- Your resume
- Undergrad transcript
- Suited assessment
As part of the registration process, we would like you to complete an assessment with Suited, an A.I. powered assessment tool that allows us to discover talent on an equitable basis. If you have already completed a Suited assessment for the legal industry, you do not need to do so again, although you may need to update the settings in your Suited account to share your results with Wilson Sonsini.
Please click on the link above to get started. The assessment typically takes no longer than 30 minutes. Please note that the first portion of the assessment is timed.
If you believe you will require a reasonable accommodation to complete the assessment, do not click the link below. Instead, send an email to support@wellsuited.com to request the accommodation. Suited will keep your request, and information you provide in making the request, completely confidential. In the event that Suited is unable to provide you with a reasonable accommodation, please contact us for assistance.
Please note that your registration will not be complete until your Suited assessment results have been shared with Wilson Sonsini. - A personal statement (Optional)
You may provide a brief statement (up to 500 words) describing how your background, experience, and/or perspective will contribute to the legal profession to supplement your application. How will participating in Wilson Sonsini’s 1L Intro to M&A support your overall goals?
If you have any questions about this program or issues with your registration, please contact lawstudents@wsgr.com
Timeline
Monday, December 8, 2025 – Registration opens
Friday, January 16, 2026 – Registration closes at 5:00 pm PT
Monday, January 26, 2026 – 1L Transactional Law: Intro to M&A Program and Networking Event, 3:00–6:00 pm PT, Wilson Sonsini’s San Francisco office