2027 1L Summer Associate

AbbVie•North Chicago, IL

1d•$58,656 - $103,500

About The Position

AbbVie’s 2027 1L Summer Associate program immerses law students in the company’s in-house legal and compliance teams. Each summer associate works in one legal or compliance department for the summer, handling real-world matters under the supervision of AbbVie attorneys and compliance officers. Program areas include patent law; clinical research and development; corporate law; strategic transactions; global commercial law; operations, privacy, and technology; litigation, employment, and compliance; and the Office of Ethics and Compliance. Work varies by academy and may include patent prosecution and intellectual property litigation, clinical trial legal and regulatory matters, corporate financing and governance, acquisition and collaboration transactions, commercial legal advice, operations and privacy support, litigation and employment matters, or compliance assessments, training, monitoring, and investigations. Summer associates also research and present on a legal or compliance issue related to their work, and have opportunities to work with in-house and outside counsel and compliance professionals. Each associate partners closely with a manager and mentor for ongoing guidance and professional development. By the end of the summer, associates are expected to gain practical experience at a global biopharmaceutical company, understand how in-house legal and compliance professionals serve as trusted business advisors, develop leadership and business-relationship skills, and strengthen their writing and communication abilities.

Requirements

Complete the first year of law school at an ABA-accredited law school during the 2026–2027 academic year.
Be enrolled in law school during the semester following the internship.
Have a strong undergraduate academic background, including in relevant disciplines.
Demonstrate the ability to perform complex legal research and analysis.
Have excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills.
For the Patent Legal Academy, have a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a scientific or engineering discipline.
Submit a letter explaining interest in the program and ranking the top three internship program choices, a personal statement, an undergraduate transcript, and any applicable graduate transcripts; submit a resume and related information through the AbbVie Career Site.
Email an unofficial law school transcript when first-semester law school grades become available.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s or graduate degree in a scientific or engineering discipline is recommended for the Clinical R&D Legal Academy.

Responsibilities

Handle real-world legal or compliance matters under the supervision of AbbVie attorneys and compliance officers.
Work with one assigned legal or compliance department for the duration of the summer.
Conduct work specific to the selected academy, which may include patent prosecution and intellectual property matters; clinical trial legal and regulatory support; corporate legal work; transaction and antitrust analysis; commercial legal guidance; operations, privacy, and technology projects; litigation, employment, and compliance matters; or ethics and compliance activities.
Research and present on a legal or compliance issue related to assigned work.
Collaborate with AbbVie in-house and outside counsel and compliance professionals.
Work closely with a manager and mentor, receiving ongoing guidance and professional development.