Who Should Apply?

First-year law students attending law school anywhere in the United States are invited to apply.

Candidates must have a strong academic record, excellent writing ability, and strong analytical and interpersonal skills. All of the participating organizations are equal employment opportunity employers, and we welcome applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity / gender expression, disability status, or any other identity.

How to Apply

Applications will open on November 17, 2025 and will be accepted until January 14, 2026. 



Interested students should use the red APPLY button below to submit a cover letter, resume, current law school transcript, and brief personal statement based on the prompt below.

Prompt: (500-700 words):

Please share a personal experience, intellectual pursuit, or formative influence that has shaped your perspective, how that perspective influences how you approach collaboration, problem-solving and/or advocacy, and how you plan to bring that perspective to this program and your future legal career. We are interested in learning about how your unique experiences, ideas, or influences have shaped the way you think, solve problems, or approach challenges.

Interviews will be conducted on Tuesday, January 27^th and offers will be extended shortly thereafter.

What Accepted Students Can Expect

Accepted 1L students will each receive a job offer from one of the eleven participating organizations and will be hired into the program, a ten-week paid internship, running from May 26 - July 31, 2026. Students accepted to the program will have the opportunity to experience legal practice and life in Maine, participate in professional development programs, and build their social and business networks within the firm and the larger legal community.

Housing

Along with short term apartment rentals in Portland, University of Southern Maine has affordable rental Suite and Apartment style housing available for D1L students during the summer at the Gorham or Portland campuses. More details will be provided during the interview process in January 2026.

The program is expected to expand in the future to include additional law firms, corporate legal departments, nonprofits, and other legal service providers.

Please direct any questions regarding how your organization can participate in next year’s program to [email protected].

The participating organizations are very proud of the opportunities the D1L program has provided to many law students and new attorneys in Maine. The recruiting process with law schools has undergone significant changes in recent years, with earlier recruiting periods and greater opportunities across many organizations for first year law students. After much reflection, the D1L program has decided to discontinue the summer associate program and to focus instead on working with law schools across New England and beyond to provide educational and networking opportunities to law students who wish to learn more about opportunities and the unique benefits of practicing in the State of Maine. Thank you to all who have made the D1L summer associate program a success.