Jones Day Launches Summer Overseas Internship Program, Creating a New Platform for Transnational Legal Talent
In recent years, Jones Day International Law Firm has launched its Summer Overseas Internship Program, attracting enthusiastic participation from students at various law schools. On December 11, an information session was held at the College of Law, National Chengchi University (NCCU). The session was jointly hosted by Adjunct Professor Tai-Ming Chen, Attorney-at-Law, and Professor Ting-Chi Liu, and featured two students who had previously completed internships at the firm’s Shanghai and Silicon Valley offices. Through first-hand sharing, the speakers helped students gain deeper insights into the working environment of an international law firm and the application process for the program.
Attorney Chen first introduced Jones Day, noting that unlike many domestic law firms, Jones Day operates under a “One Firm Worldwide” organizational culture, emphasizing cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing. The 2026 Summer Overseas Internship Program is scheduled to take place between July and September, offering selected students the opportunity to intern at either the Shanghai or Silicon Valley office. The program is open exclusively to graduate students. Four universities—National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and Soochow University—will each nominate three students, for a total of twelve nominees. Following document screening and interviews conducted by Jones Day, two interns will be selected.
Ms Lee, a student from the Institute of Technology Law at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University who previously interned at the Shanghai office, shared her application experience and reflections. She explained that the initial stage involves a university nomination and preparation of application materials, including a résumé, an English autobiography, and language proficiency documentation. The second stage consists of written responses, in which applicants select one legal issue from several provided by the firm and submit a written analysis. The final stage is an in-person interview. Lee noted that her internship in Shanghai not only deepened her understanding of legal practice but also strengthened her time-management skills in a fast-paced work environment, enabling her to grow rapidly in a highly competitive setting.
Mr Lee, a graduate of NCCU’s Department of Law and a current master’s student at National Taiwan University’s Graduate Institute of Law, shared his internship experience at the Silicon Valley office. He emphasized that the key to the written review lies in “clearly presenting one’s personal story” so that reviewers can quickly grasp the highlights of an applicant’s academic and professional background. He also noted that the third-stage interview is conducted entirely in English and lasts up to one hour, recommending that applicants prepare a comprehensive self-introduction in English and stay informed about international current affairs to demonstrate analytical thinking. During the internship, he added, proactive engagement and effective communication with colleagues are essential for smooth collaboration and progress management.
Overall, the information session was highly substantive. Participating students gained a clearer understanding of Jones Day’s international operational model, the possibilities of a transnational legal career, as well as the selection process and practical experiences associated with overseas internships.
