Wilson Sonsini has long been committed to attracting the best legal talent the industry has to offer. In support of that commitment, we are excited to announce a new, unique program that provides a $25,000 stipend to current first-year law students who have accepted offers to join our 2027 Summer Program if they spend this coming summer either working for the government or at one of Wilson Sonsini’s nonprofit partners. This experience is designed to both strengthen each student’s practical skills ahead of their 2027 arrival at the firm and enhance the ability of our nonprofit partners to serve their communities. The summer positions will be in addition to—rather than in place of—any existing internship opportunities at the nonprofits.
As part of the program, the firm has made a separate $25,000 contribution to each of the below nonprofit partners for every participating 1L they host this summer. This contribution is in addition to our ongoing pro bono collaboration with each nonprofit, as well as additional financial support provided annually via the Wilson Sonsini Foundation. In total, 10 1Ls from our Summer 2027 class will be working at nonprofit partners of the firm.
“We are thankful to further expand our relationship with eight of our wonderful nonprofit partners this summer,” said Wilson Sonsini Pro Bono Partner Luke Liss. “Placing our folks with them for their 1L summer will not only be great experientially, but it will give future lawyers an introduction to the very teams they will likely work with on important pro bono matters and clinics in the future, in service of our communities. At the same time, it is deeply important that we back these placements with concrete financial support for our nonprofit partners to use however may be most helpful to their mission—in addition to the stipend the students receive. We view this structure as a win for all parties involved, and we are very excited about the program.”
“We’re grateful for Wilson Sonsini’s continued partnership and investment in our work,” said Alison Brunner, CEO of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, one of the participating nonprofit partners. “Creating opportunities for law students to engage in public interest work early in their careers benefits not only their development, but also the communities we serve.”
Added Lois Casaleggi, Associate Dean for Career Services at the University of Chicago Law School: “We really appreciate the thoughtful way Wilson Sonsini has structured this 1L summer opportunity for students. The creative approach of partnering with nonprofit organizations for internships and financial support is a win-win-win for the firm, the organizations, and the students.”
Wilson Sonsini’s nonprofit partners participating in this summer’s program are:
Boston
- Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR)
New York
- The Legal Aid Society
- Sanctuary for Families
San Diego
- San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP)
San Francisco
- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF)
- Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (in their Health Program)
Washington, D.C.
- Tahirih Justice Center
- The Veterans Consortium (TVC)
Wilson Sonsini has longstanding relationships with each of these organizations, and this new program deepens those partnerships by providing both financial support and the additional capacity to advance their work.