Barclay Damon believes in the values of full and equal participation in the legal profession by all individuals and in eliminating bias in our industry. The firm is a workplace of choice for attorneys and staff from all backgrounds, cultures, orientations, viewpoints, and experiences. Barclay Damon’s pioneering 1L Summer Associate Program presents a unique, paid opportunity for first-year law students to gain professional experience typically not offered by firms until students' second year of study. Our 1L Summer Associate Program is open to any law student whose unique background, perspective, and experience will contribute to our growing and dynamic law firm.

Our 1L summer associates work with attorneys across the firm’s platform of offices and practice groups. They perform substantive legal work comparable to that provided to our 2L summer associates and our first-year attorneys and have opportunities to participate in a variety of networking, mentorship, and professional development programs. Our 1L summer associates accompany attorneys to client meetings, court appearances, hearings, depositions, and closings; gain experience in a wide range of matters and subject areas; and develop a realistic sense of what it’s like to be a practicing attorney at Barclay Damon.

Selection Criteria

The application process is open to all class of 2028 law students enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school regardless of race, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, sex, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military service, disability, familial status, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristics or condition protected by applicable law.

1L summer associates are expected to spend 11 weeks with Barclay Damon. The program starts May 26, 2026, and ends August 7, 2026

Barclay Damon’s recruitment committee will evaluate all applications and consider the following:

1. Record of academic achievement.
2.  Writing and communication skills.
3.  Work and extracurricular experience.
4.  Demonstrated commitment to opportunity and inclusion in the legal field.

Application Procedure

Apply at the links below this paragraph; note that positions are office specific. You may apply for more than one position by submitting application materials to your first-choice office and indicating other offices of interest in the cover letter. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Applications submitted by email will not be accepted.
Apply here for:

1.  Albany
2.  Buffalo
3.  New Haven
4. Rochester
5.  Syracuse

Required application materials:

1. Completed online application.
2. Resume.
3. Cover Letter. You may apply for more than one position by submitting application materials to your first-choice office and indicating other offices of interest in the cover letter.
4.  Personal statement (750 to 1,000 words) addressing your individual commitment to fostering opportunity and inclusion in the legal field and how this commitment is reflected in your academic, personal, or professional life. The statement should also highlight leadership skills and abilities and describe any involvement in community service or other activities.
5.  Writing sample (no more than 10 pages).
6. Law school transcripts (official and unofficial accepted). If your law school transcript is unavailable for inclusion during the initial application, a follow-up addendum can be sent via email to ebecker@barclaydamon.com when grades are available.
7.  Undergraduate transcript (official and unofficial accepted).

Questions? Contact Emma Becker, talent recruitment coordinator, at ebecker@barclaydamon.com.

Biweekly pay range: $3,800 to 4,200, depending on office location.

This pay range represents the firm’s good-faith and reasonable estimate of the range of compensation for the position and does not include performance- or merit-based bonuses or other benefits offered by the firm. Actual compensation will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications, skill set, and office location.

Posted November 14, 2025.

Barclay Damon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.