2028 Summer Associate – Compensation & Benefits

Cooley • Los Angeles, CA

4d

About The Position

Cooley LLP is recruiting 2L law students (JD 2029) for its 2028 Summer Program as summer associates in the Compensation & Benefits practice. Positions are available in the Boston, Chicago, New York, Palo Alto, and Santa Monica offices. Applicants should submit a cover letter describing their interest in Compensation & Benefits, a resume, and an undergraduate transcript. A 1L law school transcript is also required, but may be submitted later if unavailable when applying. Applicants are asked to apply to only one office.

The Compensation & Benefits practice advises clients ranging from emerging growth companies to large public corporations, as well as CEOs, senior management, boards, directors, and employee benefit plan fiduciaries. Its work spans the company lifecycle and includes benefits issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, workforce reductions, equity incentive programs, foreign operations, shareholder relations, executive compensation and public disclosures, compensation plan design and implementation, employment and severance arrangements, retirement programs subject to ERISA, investment fund matters, and health and welfare plans, including Affordable Care Act compliance.

The expected salary is based on an annualized rate of $235,000, with semi-monthly base pay of $9,791.67, subject to payroll withholdings and deductions.

Requirements

• Be a 2L law student (JD 2029).
• Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and professional excellence.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Have strong legal research and writing skills.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and proven problem-solving skills.
• Show initiative, motivation, and a service-oriented mindset.
• Have meaningful prior work experience.
• Engage in extracurricular or leadership activities.
• Work effectively in team settings.
• Bring an entrepreneurial, business-minded perspective.
• Have an interest and enthusiasm in Compensation & Benefits.
• Submit a cover letter describing interest in Compensation & Benefits, a resume, and an undergraduate transcript; submit a 1L law school transcript, which may follow later if not yet available.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on employee benefits issues arising from mergers and acquisitions and workforce reductions.
• Work on equity incentive programs, including for employers with expanding foreign operations.
• Advise on shareholder relations issues related to say-on-pay proposals.
• Assist with executive compensation matters, including SEC public disclosure, compensation plan design and implementation, and related tax, securities, labor, and corporate governance issues.
• Help formulate and negotiate senior executive employment, severance, change-in-control, and indemnification arrangements, including golden parachute matters.
• Provide counsel regarding tax-qualified retirement programs subject to ERISA and exempt programs such as top-hat plans and severance pay arrangements.
• Advise venture capital, private equity, and other investment fund clients on ERISA plan asset regulations.
• Assist clients with establishing health and welfare plans and navigating regulatory and Affordable Care Act compliance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed