Students

Thompson Coburn’s comprehensive summer program is available to qualified law students from across the U.S. We invest significant resources to train and prepare summer associates for careers after law school. We are excited to share the benefits of choosing Thompson Coburn as the place to build your legal career.

Please see our NALP forms.

A law firm’s culture can make or break your summer experience and your future career. We think our culture is different (and better) – we take our clients and what they want to achieve seriously, but at the same time, we thoroughly enjoy them and what we accomplish together. Our lawyers actively seek ways to provide value that clients recognize – this high-service, fair-price approach defines our most treasured relationships.

You’ll notice that we actively seek ways to demonstrate transparency between our firm leaders and our ranks of lawyers. In many cases, our leaders have grown up and built their careers here. They know what it’s like to be new, and they do everything in their power to make everyone in the firm feel like they are important contributors.

We are also defined by how much we care for and invest in our communities. From serving as active volunteers and leaders, to donating hundreds of pro bono hours to community causes, expect to see Thompson Coburn lawyers on the front lines of doing good.

Like many successful companies and firms, Thompson Coburn has a hybrid work environment. We’re always happy to answer any questions that you and your family have.

Thompson Coburn’s core values include a commitment to treat each other with civility, respect, sensitivity and tolerance. The natural extension of these core values is our strong commitment to building a diverse workforce. While we’re proud of our efforts to recruit, retain and develop the careers of people from diverse backgrounds and firmly believe these efforts will result in our becoming increasingly diverse in the future, we are always seeking new opportunities to make a greater impact.

With that in mind, our Diversity Committee, working with the firm’s Employment Committee and Chief Diversity & Attorney Development Officer, developed the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship, in memory of our late partner and former U.S. Senator, Tom Eagleton.

The Senator was a man of vision. He had a strong personal commitment to helping people. He believed in giving, and was especially generous when it came to giving others his time and attention. So it was only fitting that when we established the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship, we made it more than a monetary award to a deserving law student. Each scholarship recipient will receive a full year of mentoring provided by one of our partners, as well as a paid summer internship for the summer following the student’s all-important first year of law school.

This combination of financial support, guidance, and a first step toward a successful legal career will make a difference to each student who is honored with a Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship.

We believe this is the best way to honor the Senator’s belief in community and helping others whose personal opportunities have been impacted by their particular backgrounds, life experiences or economic circumstances. The impact that these scholarships have on the law students would make the Senator proud.

The efforts of one law firm can’t make the legal profession truly diverse. But we can make a difference, one person at a time.

The Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship includes:

• $15,000 stipend. Stipend will be paid in (2) equal installments.  
• Summer internship with the Firm following the first year of law school. Recipient will receive a weekly stipend. Internship is renewable.
• Mentorship from Thompson Coburn partner(s).  

Awardees will be announced after the conclusion of the formal interview process in early fall.

Scholarship Eligibility

To be eligible to receive the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship an applicant must meet each of the following requirements:

• Enrolled as a first-year law school student at one of the following institutions: 
     • Washington University School of Law; 
     • Saint Louis University School of Law; 
     • University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law; or
     • University of Illinois School of Law
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) at undergraduate institution.
• Citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or able to work in the United States without limit as to duration or the need for employer sponsorship (students in F-1 status are not eligible).  
• Demonstrate the ability to promote or enhance diversity in the legal profession.
• Was either from the first generation in their family to graduate from college, from a demographic group that is underrepresented in the legal profession, and/or whose opportunities have been impacted by their particular background, life experiences or economic circumstances. 

Before receiving scholarships funds, recipient will be required to demonstrate admission to and plans to enroll at one of the participating law schools.

Application Materials

1. Application Form. Each applicant must complete the application form. Available May 1st – July 1st; annually.  
2. Letters of Recommendation.  Each applicant must submit (2) letters of recommendation, at least one of which may be from a professor or employer. Recommendations should not be from a friend, neighbor or family member. Appropriate people to ask include employers, school advisors, coaches and recent professors. No more than two recommendations will be considered. If your recommender(s) would prefer to submit this information separately, please have them e-mail their letter of recommendation to: 
   EagletonScholarship@thompsoncoburn.com.
3. Transcript(s).  Each applicant must submit an official or unofficial copy of their transcript(s) from both undergraduate and graduate institutions.  
4. Resume. Each applicant must submit a resume that includes recent work history and community service participation.
5. Essay (750-1000 words TOTAL for the essay). In 750 – 1,000 words, each applicant must construct an essay that addresses any of the five provided questions. You may incorporate multiple questions from the list into your essay, if you choose.  

Annual Application Period:  May 1st – July 1st 

If you have any questions, please contact EagletonScholarship@thompsoncoburn.com

Eagleton Scholarship Recipients

Where do you interview?

Thompson Coburn has participated in interviewing at the following locations:

Job Fairs

• Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair (Chicago, IL)
• Lavender Law Career Fair (Chicago, IL)
• Southeastern Law School Consortium (Atlanta, GA)
• St. Louis Diversity Job Fair (St. Louis, MO)

Law Schools

• Baylor University School of Law (Waco, TX)
• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (New York, NY)
• Brooklyn Law School (Brooklyn, NY)
• Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (Washington, D.C.)
• Emory University School of Law (Atlanta, GA)
• Fordham University School of Law (New York, NY)
• George Washington University School of Law (Washington, D.C.)
• Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, D.C.)
• Howard University School of Law (Washington, D.C.)
• Loyola Patent Law Interview Program (Chicago, IL)
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law (Chicago, IL)
• Northwestern University School of Law (Chicago, IL)
• Notre Dame Law School (Notre Dame, IN)
• Saint Louis University School of Law (St. Louis, MO)
• SMU Dedman School of Law (University Park, TX)
• St. John’s University School of Law (Queens, NY)
• The University of Texas at Austin School of Law (Austin, TX)
• University of Chicago Law School (Chicago, IL)
• University of Illinois School of Law (Champaign, IL)
• University of Iowa School of Law (Iowa City, IA)
• University of Michigan Law School (Ann Arbor, MI)
• University of Missouri School of Law (Columbia, MO)
• Washington University School of Law (St. Louis, MO)

What is your review and formal interview process?

All resumes received are reviewed by a member of the legal recruiting department and a member of the Employment Committee. If a candidate is selected for an interview, a member of the legal recruiting team will contact the student by email to arrange a date and time that is convenient for the student.

What kind of candidate are you looking for?

When choosing whether to accept a candidate, we consider many factors. Significant weight is given to those with strong academic credentials and who are actively involved in their law school and community – this includes law journals, moot court/mock trial experience, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and prior work experience. These efforts show you can thrive in our dynamic environment. We equally value your potential to translate your legal education and experiences into the skills and client service approach that distinguishes Thompson Coburn from other law firms. Your ability to communicate effectively, listen attentively, work well with others and problem solve are tantamount to your success at Thompson Coburn.

Which offices hire law students?

We currently offer our Summer Associate Program to second-year laws students in our Chicago, Dallas, New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. offices. While we typically hire more second-year law students, we do consider and accept first-year law students.

What is your approach to clerkships?

Typically, third-year law students that have been offered a full-time position upon graduation, but who have been given an opportunity to clerk are welcome to complete clerkships.

How long is the Summer Associate Program?

The program is typically 10 weeks long, and begins mid-to-late May.

How big is your Summer Associate Program?

We build our summer associate classes based on our projected future needs for attorneys in specific practice areas. When we hire summer associates, we are anticipating their transition into the firm after graduation from law school.

What is your acceptance rate?

All second-year summer associates are considered for a full-time position upon completion of law school. All first-year summer associates are considered for a second-year summer associate position. More information on acceptance rates is available on our NALP forms, located here.

Do you provide travel reimbursements?

All other reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed by the firm after the legal recruitment team receives a completed NALP reimbursement form.  The form can be found here.

What is appropriate office attire?

Thompson Coburn has adopted a ‘Dress for your Day’ dress code that allows staff and attorneys the discretion to select appropriate dress related to their business needs on each workday.  ‘Dress for your Day’ dress is intended to be more relaxed (up to and including jeans and/or athletic shoes) when staff and attorneys have a workday that does not involve meetings with clients, vendors, other professional meetings, etc.  Consideration of a day’s activities should always be used when determining what to wear to the office, and it is the expectation that clothing appropriate for the nature of that day’s business be worn.  

Can summer associates pursue pro bono opportunities?

Thompson Coburn encourages all of its lawyers to participate in pro bono activities for which we give credit as for billable work. 

Does the firm have any diversity initiatives?

Thompson Coburn is committed to creating and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that recognizes the contributions individuals with different backgrounds and experiences bring to our clients and our firm. Below are just a few ways in which we strive to exceed our diversity goals:

• Creating teams that reflect both gender and racial diversity
• Supporting a strong Diversity Committee that is chaired by a member of the Management Committee
• Implementing hiring strategies to recruit diverse lawyers
• Maintaining a diverse workforce by establishing a mentoring program designed and monitored by the firm’s Diversity Committee
• Commitment to the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship that supports minority students

• Most importantly, we help you figure out what you want to do
• Watch, listen and learn – we introduce you to our many services and industries through interactive and engaging presentations
• Access to our TC leaders throughout the firm and mentorship from partners and associates
• You won’t be in a bullpen trying to forage work. We’ll work with you to design your own plan – think structure + flexibility
• Regular check-ins to discuss assignments and ask questions
• You’ll get to meet your summer colleagues from all TC offices when we bring you together for our signature “Mock Trial Experience”
• Finally, we hope you’re coming to TC with the same mentality we have – we want you to work with us
• Readily available mentors to help guide you through the summer

Thank you for your interest in Thompson Coburn.

For general inquiries regarding summer associate positions, please contact legalrecruiting@thompsoncoburn.com or submit an application.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/DV

2025 Thompson Coburn 1L LCLD (Leadership Council on Legal Diversity) Scholars Program

Thompson Coburn LLP (TC) is committed to designing and implementing industry-leading diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and providing resources and support to diverse attorneys. The Firm’s total commitment includes being a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) and participating in the 1L LCLD Scholars Program. As a 1L LCLD Scholar at TC, you will participate in the Firm’s 10-week summer associate program in the Dallas office, as well as attend the 1L LCLD Scholars Virtual Experience throughout the summer. This paid summer associate position provides an excellent opportunity to gain an understanding of how law firms work, including client interaction and collaboration with TC attorneys.

TC offers a comprehensive 10-week summer program and invests significant resources to train and prepare summer associates for their careers. Summer associates perform real work for real clients, and the Firm’s unique work assignment system ensures that each summer associate explores their respective area(s) of interest. Each TC summer associate regularly meets with both a partner mentor and an associate mentor that provide guidance, support, and recommendations. The Firm also provides opportunities for summer associates to learn about Firm’s culture, practice areas, various office locations, as well as how the Firm fulfills its overarching mission of total commitment” to clients, employees, and the communities it serves. Summer associates attend a variety of networking social events.

Thompson Coburn is a full-service law firm of more than 400 attorneys serving an impressive list of clients in a full spectrum of industry sectors with offices in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Birmingham, and Washington, D.C.
The 1L LCLD Scholarship is open to first year law students who are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive legal profession, and are committed to practicing law after graduating from law school. Students with backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the practice of law are highly encouraged to apply for this opportunity.

To apply for the 1L LCLD Program: click here to submit your resume, cover letter, transcript, writing sample and a brief personal statement (500 words or less) describing (a) how your journey to the legal profession demonstrates your commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the legal community; (b) your interest in working at Thompson Coburn; and (c) how your personal and professional experiences will contribute to the Firm; generally.

Thompson Coburn will accept 1L LCLD Scholars applications on a rolling basis.

Please click here to apply for the position.