2027 Intellectual Property Fellowship

Sheppard’s Intellectual Property team is nationally recognized for handling high-stakes patent litigation, complex licensing disputes, and sophisticated patent portfolio management for some of the world’s most innovative companies. Our team of more than 150 attorneys and patent professionals works collaboratively across offices and disciplines to help clients protect, enforce, and commercialize their intellectual property. Each year, the firm selects up to four talented 1L students pursuing a career in intellectual property law to be awarded up to $30K in a fellowship grant. As an IP Fellow, you will gain meaningful exposure to sophisticated IP matters while working alongside experienced attorneys across the firm during the 2027 and 2028 Summer Programs. Fellows receive substantive assignments, mentorship, and opportunities to build relationships with attorneys from a variety of practice areas and offices. To allow students the opportunity to further get to know our attorneys, we plan a well-balanced calendar of social events. A hallmark of the program is Sheppard’s comprehensive IP training curriculum, including a seven-part series that follows the full lifecycle of a patent litigation. Topics include proceedings before the PTAB, fact and expert discovery, trial strategy, and appeals, culminating in a mock oral argument that allows Fellows to put their learning into practice. Designed to accelerate both legal and technical development, the IP Fellowship provides an exceptional foundation for students interested in building a career in intellectual property law. Hiring Criteria: The Intellectual Property Fellowship Program is only seeking students that have obtained a technical degree, or demonstrated experience in engineering, computer science, physics, life sciences, AI, cybersecurity, or other similar area. A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required; a minimum of 3.4 is preferred. We look for students with past experience that shows leadership skills, proof of initiative and the ability to handle responsibility. We understand you may not have your law school transcript at this point. You will receive a link to update your application with your law school transcript once you apply. The salary for this position is $225,000 per year. Notice to Candidates Pursuant to New York City Local Law No. 144, Sheppard provides the following disclosures: Sheppard uses the automated employment decision tool Suited to assess candidates who seek employment with the firm as attorneys, including candidates who reside in New York City. Suited assesses the following job qualifications and characteristics: analytical thinking; conformity; conscientiousness; dependability; reliance; tradition; achievement; initiative; personal efficiency; power; security; self-awareness; self-direction; stimulation; benevolence; interpersonal relationship skills; cooperation; integrity; and universalism. We ask that you complete the Suited assessment to provide us with a more holistic view of your candidacy to help our recruiting process be more fair and inclusive. It should take no longer than 30 minutes and please note that the first portion of the assessment is timed. Suited exclusively collects and analyzes data provided by individual candidates during each candidate’s assessment. Pursuant to its data retention policy, Sheppard Mullin retains candidate scores generated by Suited for three (3) years. The link for the Suited assessment will be sent to you in a separate email from noreply@wellsuited.com. If you believe you will require a reasonable accommodation to complete the assessment, do not click the link you receive. Instead, send an email to support@wellsuited.com to request the accommodation. Suited will keep your request and any information you provide completely confidential.