Hiring the people we’ll be working with for years to come is a critically important process at Rothwell Figg. Today’s law students are tomorrow’s colleagues – and the future of our firm. Hiring law students is one of the most important things we do.
Summer Associates
The foundation of our efforts with law students is our Summer Associate program. The goal of the program is for us to get to know you, and vice versa. We’re looking for people who both are a good professional and personal fit with our firm. Accordingly, we strive to give Summer Associates an accurate sense of what it’s like to work here.
Summer Associates are not only given an introduction to intellectual property and technology law, but a realistic view of what an associate’s life is like at Rothwell Figg. This means meaningful work assignments, and all kinds of opportunities to work with and get to know our attorneys. Assignments may include helping to draft patent and trademark applications; engaging in research for litigation; attending client meetings; and providing a wide range of support for our attorneys in a wide range of practices. They also receive plenty of one-on-one training from attorneys, both formally and ad hoc.
Summer Associates are hired because we believe they would make successful attorneys at our firm. During the summer, we give feedback to help them know how they’re doing along the way. In addition to informal feedback from attorneys throughout the summer, Summer Associates are given formal feedback halfway through the summer from their partner and associate mentor as well as at the end of the summer. We also encourage our summer associates to seek out feedback throughout the summer.
Where the Sky's the Limit
A career at Rothwell Figg means not only shaping your future through hands-on training across a multiplicity of IP, tech, and litigation law specialties, but joining a collaborative environment where we encourage each other to thrive.
Along with their work, we also think it’s important for Summer Associates to get to know the attorneys and staff at our firm and Washington, D.C., where our firm is headquartered. To that end, we sponsor regular social events, ranging from simply going to lunch with someone to more formal events. In the past, these have included formal dinners, Washington Nationals and D.C. United games, cooking classes, wine tastings, bowling, and escape rooms.
Rothwell Figg is included in Vault’s 2025 Top 150 Under 150, a list created to recognize outstanding small and midsize law firms that deliver big results. Additionally, we are ranked #8 in Vault’s 2025 Best Intellectual Property Specialty Law Firms. The firms included in the rankings were voted strongest in each practice area by associates working in that area at peer firms.
Click here to view Rothwell Figg's profile in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers.
Law, particularly IP and technology law, is the ultimate knowledge work, and a highly personal profession. Teamwork, collegiality, and strong working partnerships are powered by the relationships we develop together. Being a Rothwell Figg Summer Associate is the first step. If you think this sounds right for you, contact us. We’d be delighted to tell you more.