1Ls: Bass Berry Summer Associate Program & Inclusion and Engagement Fellowships

2027 1L Inclusion and Engagement Fellowship

Bass, Berry & Sims believes embracing diversity strengthens who we are as a firm and enhances the service we provide to our clients and the communities where we live and work. We have devoted substantial recruitment efforts to attracting and developing industry-leading attorneys who will bring a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences to the firm. As part of our commitment, the firm offers up to two fellowships to first-year law students who are committed to inclusion and engagement. Successful applicants to the fellowship are eligible to receive up to a $45,000 award based on the below payment schedule, as well as a paid summer associate position.

1. $10,000 payable on the first day of employment in our summer associate program as a first-year summer associate;
2. $15,000 payable on the first day of employment of the summer program as a second-year summer associate;
3. $20,000 payable upon joining Bass, Berry & Sims as a first-year associate.

Eligibility Criteria:

The Bass Berry & Sims 1L Inclusion and Engagement Fellowship is open to first-year law students that meet at least one of the below criteria and are either a U.S. citizen or otherwise authorized to work in the United States:

1) A first-generation college graduate

2)  Foreign-born, or a first-generation U.S. citizen

3)  A graduate of a historically minority undergraduate institution

4)  Economically disadvantaged

5)  Disabled

6)  Historically underrepresented

7)  Other members of society that are otherwise underrepresented

8) Non-traditional career path law student

9) Military veteran – individuals who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces

10) Otherwise demonstrate a meaningful commitment to advancing inclusion and engagement in their community

Additionally, 1L students must be enrolled full-time in an ABA-accredited law school and not be the recipient of a similar fellowship award from another law firm, employer, or legal organization such as the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars Partnership program, during the same time period.

Application Materials:

Applications for Bass Berry & Sims’ 1L Inclusion and Engagement Fellowship will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning October 15, 2026. To be considered for this position, please review both this posting and our 1L Summer Associate posting (for additional information about our summer program and practice area availability by office), and then submit your application here. You will also be considered for our 1L summer associate position by submitting this application. You do not need to complete a separate application. Weekly summer associate salary will be $3,950 for Memphis and Nashville and $4,325 for Chicago and Washington, D.C.. Your application must include the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Undergraduate Transcript – unofficial copy will be accepted
• NALP Common Application Prompt (500-word response): Using specific examples, please explain how your personal, academic, and/or professional background and experiences will allow you to offer a diverse perspective to our team and clients we serve
• Once 1L grades are released, please send your 1L law school transcript to Olivia.Cummins@bassberry.com.

For more information, please contact:

Olivia Cummins, Recruiting Coordinator

Lee Rogers, Director of Integration and Inclusion