“Attending the Wilson Sonsini Life Science Summit was a wonderful experience. The summit provided numerous opportunities to network, and I gained insights into Wilson’s clients, practice areas, and culture, which ultimately helped me decide to pursue a summer associateship with the firm. If you are interested in practicing in the life science industry or just want to know what that would entail, I’d definitely recommend you attend. You’ll quickly see why Wilson is a cut above the rest.”
Jordan Bateman
University of Washington School of Law, 2023 1l Life sciences Scholar, 2024 Summer Associate, and incoming 2025 Fall Associate
Click here to apply to our 2025 1L Life Sciences Summit!
Home to one of the largest life sciences practices in the U.S., Wilson Sonsini is the premier provider of legal services to thousands of innovation-focused life sciences enterprises worldwide. The firm has a 60-plus year history of working closely with entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors who trust Wilson Sonsini’s strategic advice to establish and realize their companies’ business objectives, which includes protecting and leveraging their most valuable intellectual property assets. We represent life sciences companies through the entire business life cycle, from formation through IPO and strategic partnerships.
Established in 2023, our 1L Life Sciences Summit brings together students from across the country with interest and/or experience in the life sciences. This day-long program introduces current and incoming first-year law students to Wilson Sonsini’s diverse life sciences practice areas to help participants explore how they can leverage their life sciences backgrounds and interests in their future legal careers. The summit features panels, client speakers and networking opportunities.
We welcome applications annually, starting in early December. Our 2025 1L Life Sciences Summit will take place in San Diego, California on Friday, January 31 from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm. Travel costs associated with attending the summit are covered by Wilson Sonsini.
During the summit, 1L Life Sciences Scholars can expect to:
- Meet attorneys from our breadth of life sciences practice areas
- Hear from our clients and lawyers about their different career paths in the industry
- Take an in-depth look at what each of the featured life sciences practices entails
- Practice the art of networking with attorneys and students who share an affinity for the life sciences
The 2024 1L Life Sciences Summit welcomed 36 Scholars from 15 law schools around the country. Our programming included deep dives with five different Wilson Sonsini practice groups. The 2024 summit also featured client speakers from Johnson & Johnson and Azurity Pharmaceuticals.
“”After beginning law school, I always wondered if I made the right choice and felt as though I was giving up my love for science. This summit showed me that there are many intersections of law and life sciences and that a career in both is possible. The attorneys and staff at Wilson were integral in shaping the trajectory of my career.”
Keili Prenton
University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2023 1L life Sciences Scholar, 2024 Summer Associate and incoming 2025 Fall Associate
Each 1L Life Sciences Scholar will be matched with an attorney mentor based on geographic and practice group interest. Attorney mentors will meet with scholars regularly during the duration of their first year of law school. Attorney mentors are encouraged to introduce scholars to their networks and provide guidance on everything from course selections to how to stand out in the interview process. Scholars are also invited to virtual professional development trainings including:
- Building Your Brand
- Next Level Networking
- Refining Your Resume
- Mock Interview Program
If you have any questions about the 1L Life Sciences Summit, please contact lawstudents@wsgr.com.
Click here to apply to our 2025 1L Life Sciences Summit!
All firms look the same from the outside. You need to look at the people and the focus. Look at what drives the firm and see if that is the direction you want to go. If there’s a solid practice within the firm, but it’s not the broader direction the firm is going, it won’t be served over the long term. Look for the firm-wide direction and see if it aligns with your goals.
Sample 1L Life Sciences Summit Agenda
Day One:
8:00-9:00 am Breakfast and Welcome Address
9:00-9:45 am Introduction and Client Speaker
9:50-10:35 am Corporate Life Sciences: The Art of the Financial Deal
10:40-11:25 am Patents & Innovations: It’s Technical, But So Much More
11:25 am–12:25 pm Women’s History Month Intro and Women of Wilson Networking Lunch
12:25-1:10 pm Technology Transactions – Biotech: What’s the (Business) Deal?
1:15-2:00 pm Patent Litigation: Life Science Advocates
2:05-2:50 pm Antitrust Life Sciences: Navigating Competition in Innovative Industries
2:50-3:35 pm Introduction & Client Speaker:
3:45-4:50 pm Life Sciences @ Wilson: Ask Me Anything!
4:50-5:00 pm Closing Remarks