Summer Clerkship Program
“This summer at Bowles Rice has been incredibly meaningful to me and has only reaffirmed the outstanding reputation the firm already holds. Through the opportunity to work on a wide range of interesting projects, observe court proceedings, and get to know so many exceptional attorneys, I received an introduction to the practice of law that is truly unparalleled. The trust the attorneys placed in me and my work was both rewarding and empowering, allowing me to see firsthand how the skills I’ve developed in law school translate into real-world practice. Most importantly, Bowles Rice has provided a welcoming and encouraging environment where I have been challenged to grow, supported every step of the way, and made to feel like a valued member of the team. This has been the best summer and an opportunity I will always be grateful for!”
Asya Stewart
West Virginia University
College of Law
2026 Summer Clerk | Charleston
“I have thoroughly enjoyed spending my 1L summer with Bowles Rice. The work I have had the privilege to take part in has not only been interesting but also fulfilling. As a West Virginian, I am proud to see how the Bowles team brings our state’s distinctive hospitality to each interaction with its clients. It is impressive to fully grasp the breadth of representation we are able to provide across broad swaths of the legal field throughout the state. I am truly grateful for the effort that the attorneys and staff put forward to help us gain meaningful legal experience working on a wide range of issues, and I cannot attest highly enough as to the culture that the firm has fostered. I highly recommend this clerkship to any law student who is looking to grow outside of their comfort zone by working on real cases to serve the people of West Virginia.”
Ryan Atassi
Washington & Lee University
School of Law
2026 Summer Clerk | Charleston
“The most enjoyable part of my clerkship with Bowles Rice has been the variety of work I have had the opportunity to experience. I came into law school without a clear plan for how I wanted to use my J.D., so I wanted to gain exposure to as many different areas of practice as possible, and I was able to do exactly that this summer. I was also surprised by how often I was asked for my opinion, whether during depositions or while drafting contracts, complaints, answers, and other legal documents. I expected most assignments to come with the supervising attorney’s thoughts and strategy already developed. While that did happen on occasion, I was frequently given the opportunity to take the first pass and develop my own approach before receiving feedback. That experience is greatly appreciated and has been invaluable to my growth.”
Luke Bechtel
West Virginia University
College of Law
2026 Summer Clerk | Morgantown
"My summer with Bowles Rice has been my favorite part of being a law student so far. Everyone at the firm was not only kind from the start, but they quickly became invested in my summer experience and my future career. Attorneys were eager to give me exposure to real work and integrate me into the firm by working with me directly, and I was able to actively shape my own summer and learn what I was and was not interested in. I was given opportunities to do far more than I ever expected in one summer, and I feel it’s given me a true glimpse into what working in a firm is like. I would recommend a summer with Bowles Rice to any student who wants an active, informative, and hands-on look into private practice."
Luke Jeffrey
Georgetown University
Law Center
2026 Summer Clerk | Charleston
"This summer has been the most formative chapter of my professional development yet. My favorite part of the Bowles Rice clerkship has been working on meaningful projects that directly affect clients and, in some cases, are filed with the court. I was surprised by how much substantive responsibility summer clerks receive and how willing attorneys are to teach, provide feedback, and involve us in different practice areas. Bowles Rice is truly special, as I have never been in a professional environment where everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I would recommend this program to any law student looking for meaningful experience, genuine mentorship, and a place where they can learn, contribute, and truly enjoy the summer."
Lauren R. Hill
Washington & Lee University
School of Law
2026 Summer Clerk | Charleston
“Returning to Bowles Rice for a second summer has only reinforced why I was so eager to come back. This clerkship has continued to provide me with exceptional hands-on legal experience that extends far beyond the classroom. From researching complex legal issues to drafting substantive work product, I have been trusted with meaningful work that has strengthened both my legal skills and confidence as a future attorney. What has made this experience especially rewarding is the firm’s willingness to invest in its clerks, including awesome trips to different areas in West Virginia! The attorneys are generous with their time, committed to mentorship, and genuinely interested in helping us grow professionally. I am incredibly grateful for another summer of learning, challenging myself, and working alongside outstanding attorneys and staff, and I look forward to carrying these experiences with me throughout my legal career.”
Emma Coiner
Duquesne University
Thomas R. Kline School of Law
2026 Summer Clerk | Southpointe
“Do not let the stress of on-campus interviews or the first year of law school overshadow the process! Finding Bowles Rice after my 1L year and returning for my 2L summer has been one of the best parts of my law school experience, hands down. From the beginning, the attorneys trusted me with meaningful work and treated me as a valued member of the team rather than just a summer clerk. That trust gave me the confidence to take ownership of projects, ask questions, and grow both professionally and personally. Bowles Rice has shown me what a strong work culture looks like—one that encourages good work, collaboration, and learning without unnecessary pressure. Beyond the legal experience, you’ll build relationships with attorneys across the state and create lasting friendships with your fellow clerks. It truly feels like you’re beginning your career, not just completing a summer clerkship.”
Madelyn Duncan
West Virginia University
College of Law
2026 Summer Clerk | Morgantown
“I had no idea what to expect from a summer legal internship when I started with Bowles Rice. However, it is safe to say that my last two summers with this firm completely exceeded all of my expectations. I still cannot believe the number of practice areas I engaged in, places I visited, and clients I met because of Bowles Rice. The attorneys and staff here truly care about their clients, their communities, their summer associates, and each other. They have redefined my perception of what a law firm can be, and I am immensely grateful for the education and experience they provided me over my two summers in their Martinsburg office.”
Quincy Williams
West Virginia University
College of Law
2026 Summer Clerk | Martinsburg
The Bowles Rice Summer Clerkship Program is designed to provide a realistic, informative, and well-balanced experience that provides each of our participants with a full picture of our firm, our practice areas, and the quality of life in the cities in which we live and work. The program also gives the firm an opportunity to get to know and evaluate each summer clerk as a potential associate upon his or her law school graduation.
We recognize that our clerks come to Bowles Rice with varying degrees of experience or knowledge of how a law firm operates and with a wide range of professional expectations. Our kick-off orientation program gives our new and returning clerks a clear understanding of what to expect and introduces them to the lawyers, staff, and other students with whom they will be working.
Each summer clerk is paired with a Bowles Rice attorney as a mentor to ensure that the clerk has the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the summer program and receives a well-rounded experience. The mentor is the summer clerk's principal contact for general firm matters and questions.
Our summer clerks are not assigned to a particular department. Instead, projects are assigned by a team of attorneys who strive to provide each clerk with work and practical experience in as many practice areas and with as many attorneys as possible. This includes not only research and drafting assignments but also participation in meetings, closings, depositions, and observation of trials. Clerks are provided with feedback on their projects, so there is a complete learning experience during their stay.
Summer clerks in all Bowles Rice offices come together to participate in weekly meetings with the use of our video conferencing technology. As a group, they also visit two or three of the firm's offices during the summer. This provides additional opportunities for them to interact with attorneys, learn about the firm's practice areas and clients in our different offices, and have some fun.
That's right—fun! We believe it is important for our clerks to get to know us, and each other, on a more personal level, and we plan a full complement of social activities (such as a whitewater rafting trip, firm-wide parties, baseball games, small dinners at attorneys' homes, organized and unorganized athletics, and other informal gatherings) to encourage such interaction.
In short, our goal is to create an experience for each of our summer clerks that is informative, enjoyable, and provides a perspective on the practice of law at Bowles Rice that we believe compares favorably with any other firm, anywhere.