Law Students and Judicial Clerks

Law Students

1L and 2L Summer Associate Program

Parsons Behle & Latimer recruits from a diverse pool of first- and second-year law students to participate in its Summer Associate Program with the goal of them becoming practicing attorneys at Parsons. If you are looking to develop your legal career, serve sophisticated clients and work alongside some of the best attorneys in the Intermountain West, Parsons is the place for you. Now, some details….

Who: Parsons is a regional firm with national expertise in myriad practice areas. Our firm is comprised of talented, diverse, and engaging people. Our practice teams are ranked among the best in the Intermountain West by Chambers USA.

What: Our Summer Associate Program is an important component of our culture. The program offers us an opportunity to get to know exceptional law students from a variety of backgrounds who, we hope, will one day become Parsons attorneys and the lifeblood of our firm. In turn, the program provides law students with a real-world opportunity to understand the practice of law in a private firm and what an Associate position at Parsons will be like. Many of our most successful and long-tenured attorneys began their careers as summer associates at Parsons.

Although we have evolved the Summer Associate Program over the years, the key components remain the same: mentorship, training, quality work, social activities, and feedback. Each summer associate is assigned a mentor to guide them through the summer program process. Our Recruiting Committee convenes several times each summer to ensure our summer associates are making progress, getting the work they want in the practice areas that interest them, and are meeting firm goals.

Where: Parsons has offices across the Intermountain West, including Boise, Idaho Falls and Rexburg, Idaho; Lehi, Park City, Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah; Helena and Missoula, Montana; Reno, Nevada; and Jackson, Wyoming. Many of our attorneys are admitted and actively practice in other states as well. While we are a “regional” law firm, our practice is national. 

When: Our Summer Associate Program begins in mid-to-late May each year. Our summer associates are typically with us for 10 to 12 weeks, depending on their availability.

Why: As a law student, it can be hard to differentiate one firm from another. Many have similar practice areas, similar-looking websites and similar compensation schemes. So why should you choose Parsons? We’ll give you three reasons.

First, we are a group of hard-working attorneys from various backgrounds who understand the importance of excellent legal work and life outside the workplace. We know that keeping our attorneys happy and productive also means understanding they are more than attorneys. They are parents, skiers, snowboarders, river raft guides, musicians, professors, community volunteers, and more.

Second, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. It is Parsons’ strategic goal to become a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion among businesses in our communities and law firms in our region. We are a founding member of the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion and are committed to actively obtaining an applicant pool of candidates from diverse backgrounds, opposing discrimination in all of its forms, promoting equal opportunity, and being part of the solution.

Third, we value, promote and support community service. Parsons’ attorneys are expected to be community leaders and to give back through public service. Our attorneys have been repeatedly recognized for their commitment to pro bono service, which we approach with the same dedication, expertise and commitment as we do in serving our clients.   

How:  First- and second-year law students interested in applying to Parsons’ Summer Associate Program should apply by email to Susie Headlee (sheadlee@parsonsbehle.com). Applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, transcript and writing sample. An optional and short (typically one page) diversity statement providing a description of the candidate’s contributions or commitment to diversity in their academic or professional life is appreciated. Applications for 2L summer positions are accepted between June and end of July the year prior to the summer program. (Applications for Montana and Wyoming need to be received no later than Friday, August 30.) Applications for 1L summer positions are accepted until the end of January, the year of the summer program. All applicants must have unrestricted U.S. employment authorization and be eligible to practice law in their preferred state following graduation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Judicial Clerks

Parsons also welcomes motivated and highly-qualified attorneys who are seeking permanent employment as associates following their judicial clerkships. We place a high value on diversity, equity and inclusion, and we are always looking for candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

When you arrive at Parsons, your journey is just beginning. We provide our attorneys with the resources to achieve success in the legal marketplace. To that end we invest heavily in our attorneys and offer them opportunities to engage in business development training and initiatives. We strive to make all attorneys essential team members that contribute to our clients' success as well as the success of the firm. 

Judicial Clerks interested in applying for a permanent associate position at Parsons should apply by email to Susie Headlee (sheadlee@parsonsbehle.com). Applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, transcript and writing sample. An optional and short (typically one page) diversity statement providing a description of the candidate’s contributions or commitment to diversity in their academic or professional life is appreciated. Also, please let us know when your clerkship ends and which office you are interested in.