Application Process  

Our Orange County office will accept summer associate applications through the Careers page of the Gibson Dunn website from November 3 through February 6.  Students may submit an application for a 2026 Summer Program position (1L summer) or a 2027 Summer Program position (2L summer). If a student submits a 1L summer application for the 2026 Summer Program they will also be considered for a 2L 2027 Summer Program position; students do not need to submit two applications.

The office also may participate in limited school-organized interview programs and resume collections.  Students are encouraged to check with their Career Services Offices regarding our registration status.

We ask that students apply directly through our website, as that is our primary method for collecting applications. If we are participating in an organized interview program at your school, please bid to see us there as well!

2026 Summer Program (1L Summer) Hiring  

Our Orange County office will be hiring additional students for our 2026 Summer Program (1L summer).  1L applications should be submitted through the 2026 Summer Program link and will be considered simultaneously for the 2027 Summer Program (2L summer).  Students who join us for their 1L summer in 2026 will be expected to also join us for their 2L summer in 2027, pending satisfactory performance.

Interview Timing  

Our Orange County office will review applications for the 2026 Summer Program (1L summer) and the 2027 Summer Program (2L summer) primarily after the release of first-semester grades.  Interview invitations will be extended only to students who have uploaded their complete transcripts.

If the office meets you through a school-sponsored interview program, callback interview invitations will be extended shortly thereafter.

Complete Transcripts   

Students are invited to apply before first-semester grades are released.  We ask that students update their applications with complete transcripts as soon as full first-semester grades are available.  We do not plan to extend offers until after students have updated their applications with this information.

Competing Deadlines   

Students are encouraged to disclose whether they hold offers from other firms for the 2026 Summer Program (1L summer) or 2027 Summer Program (2L summer).  If students have deadlines that will prevent them from interviewing with Gibson Dunn, we strongly suggest that they request additional time to reasonably consider employment options.  If requests are denied, we request that students let us know and we recommend students seek guidance from their Career Services Offices.

Gibson Dunn Offer Deadline   

Gibson Dunn offers will remain open for 14 days from the date of the student’s extended offer, unless otherwise noted.

Multiple Office Interest   

Students should apply to their first-choice Gibson Dunn office only.  The firm does not allow interviews with multiple offices.  To ensure a cohesive and enriching experience, summer associates are assigned to a single office for the duration of the program.  While we recognize that unique circumstances may arise, requests to split time or transfer between Gibson Dunn offices will be considered only in exceptional cases and must be approved in advance of the program’s start.

Gibson Dunn Contact    Please reach out to the appropriate Recruiting Department contact in your preferred Gibson Dunn office OR to our law school outreach team with questions.  If you would like to learn more about Gibson Dunn generally, please sign up for our newsletter or find us at an event on campus!