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Summer Associate Program Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Summer Associate Program information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Summer Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Summer Associate, you typically need strong analytical abilities, academic achievement, and relevant coursework or prior internships in your field of interest. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, research databases, or sector-specific software is often expected. Excellent communication, teamwork, and adaptability are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are crucial for delivering high-quality work, collaborating effectively, and making a positive impression during a competitive, short-term placement.

What are some common challenges faced by participants in a Summer Associate Program, and how can they be addressed?

Summer Associate Programs are fast-paced and often involve a steep learning curve, as participants are expected to quickly adapt to new tasks while balancing multiple assignments. Common challenges include managing time effectively, networking within a short period, and navigating unfamiliar workplace expectations. Seeking feedback regularly, asking questions when in doubt, and actively participating in team projects can help associates overcome these challenges and make the most of the experience.

What is the difference between Summer Associate Program vs Summer Intern?

AspectSummer Associate ProgramSummer Intern
CredentialsUndergraduate or law school students, often with some coursework completedUndergraduate students, typically early in their studies
Work EnvironmentProfessional, client-facing, often in law firms, consulting, financeSupportive, learning-focused, may involve basic tasks
DurationTypically 8-12 weeks during summerUsually 8-12 weeks during summer
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in law, consulting, finance firmsCommon across various industries including law, finance, engineering

The Summer Associate Program is a competitive, often more advanced internship aimed at students nearing graduation, offering more direct exposure to professional work. Summer Interns are usually earlier in their academic careers, focusing on gaining initial experience. Both roles are valuable for career exploration but differ mainly in level of responsibility and target candidate experience.

What is a Summer Associate Program?

A Summer Associate Program is a structured internship, typically offered by law firms, consulting firms, or investment banks, designed for students—often in law or graduate school—during their summer break. These programs provide hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and exposure to a firm's culture and operations. Summer associates work on real projects, receive mentorship, and often participate in training sessions and social events. Successful performance in a Summer Associate Program can lead to a full-time job offer after graduation.
What cities in California are hiring for Summer Associate Program jobs? Cities in California with the most Summer Associate Program job openings:
Infographic showing various Summer Associate Program job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 22% Full Time, 62% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution.
Summer Associate - MBA

Summer Associate - MBA

Cornerstone Research

Menlo Park, CA • On-site, Remote

$7K/mo

Other

Posted 28 days ago


Job description

Overview

Who We Are

Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial consulting and expert testimony in all phases of complex disputes and regulatory investigations. The firm works with an extensive network of prominent academics and industry practitioners to identify the best-qualified expert for each assignment. With a reputation for high quality and effectiveness, Cornerstone Research has consistently delivered rigorous, state-of-the-art analysis since 1989. The firm has more than 1,000 professionals in nine offices across the United States, UK, and EU.

Cornerstone Research is involved in a broad variety of high-profile legal cases and disputes that are often covered on the front pages of business newspapers. Current matters focus on topics such as capital markets, business and securities valuation, M&A and corporate events, risk management, market competition, high-frequency trading, the impact of marketing on consumers, and patent infringement.  Much of our work rests at the intersection of finance and economics as we evaluate potential mergers, claims of anticompetitive conduct, and the impact of intellectual property infringement.  We also address marketing and economic issues arising in cases with allegations of misleading marketing or false claims.  Much of our work involves qualitative and quantitative analysis, including sophisticated econometrics and cutting-edge data analyses. More detail can be found on our website:  www.cornerstone.com.

Cornerstone Research provides an interesting and rewarding work environment. The firm has grown steadily over more than 35 years, and we maintain a firm culture that is collegial, supportive, friendly, and collaborative.

Responsibilities

Summer Associates at Cornerstone Research

The Summer Associate position offers prospective Associate candidates the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in our work. Summer Associates help devise and apply innovative analytical approaches meeting the highest academic standards to address challenging issues. We invest heavily in cutting-edge information resources and computing capabilities and often have access to proprietary data to inform our analyses.

Qualifications

Candidate Profile

Cornerstone Research provides exceptional career opportunities for MBAs while offering an industry-competitive compensation and benefits package. Our work is largely structured around collaborating in teams to develop and apply analytical frameworks to real- world issues and presenting complex analyses to our clients. Therefore, we look for candidates with strong analytical, communication, and management skills. The ideal candidate will also have a strong background and interest in finance, economics, or accounting. If you have earned a CPA or CFA, work in analytical finance, or are passionate about and are focusing on one of these fields in your MBA program, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Interested Candidates

Candidates should complete the online application on our careers website where you will be asked to submit a cover letter (including a statement describing your interest in economic and financial consulting and your location preferences) and a resume. Please be sure to rank our offices in order of your location preference, if any. We are currently hiring in our Boston, Brussels, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Bay Area (San Francisco and Silicon Valley), and Washington, D.C., offices. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. Cornerstone Research will consider students with F-1 status who can independently obtain work authorization.

Contact

Associate Recruiting Team Cornerstone Research

Email: associate-recruiting@cornerstone.com

Website: https://www.cornerstone.com/

Cornerstone Research offers market-leading compensation. The bi-weekly salary for the Summer Associate role is $7,500.00 in the United States.

Cornerstone Research provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to legally protected categories, such as age, sex, gender, gender identity, race, color, creed/religious belief, medical condition, predisposing genetic characteristics or genetic information or testing, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, military status, veteran status, arrest or conviction record (except where permitted by law), sexual orientation, ethnic background, citizen status, ancestry, national origin, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law.

Employment Type: OTHER