Kelly Hart values hiring talented, young lawyers and has a track record of recognizing and promoting their achievements. Thomson Reuters recently recognized 22 of our young lawyers as 2025 Rising Stars. Additionally, the recognition of 28 lawyers as 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers®, and the 12 and 19 associates who were named 2024 Top Attorneys with less than five years of practice by Fort Worth Magazine and 360 West magazine, respectively, further underscores Kelly Hart’s commitment to identifying and cultivating exceptional legal talent.
To maintain this culture of excellence, Kelly Hart actively seeks the most highly qualified law students who demonstrate excellent academic records, teamwork skills, professionalism, and a commitment to their community. Our eight-week summer program for second-year law students is designed to provide a first-hand experience of the work environment they will encounter as a first-year associate. Each summer associate is assigned two sponsors who will guide them through the program, facilitate work assignments, offer feedback, and provide insight into Kelly Hart’s culture.
Kelly Hart provides its summer associates with the opportunity to work with both transactional and litigation practice groups. They play an active role in ongoing cases and transactions and have the chance to attend trials, closings, depositions, contract negotiations, hearings, and client meetings. Moreover, in line with Kelly Hart’s commitment to providing pro bono legal services, summer associates also participate in a pro bono clinic with a local nonprofit organization.
In addition to providing a realistic snapshot of associate life at Kelly Hart, our program is also designed to deepen our summer associates’ relationships with other firm attorneys and provide an immersive experience into the business community and cultural landscape of one of the country’s fastest-growing cities.
In the summer of 2025, we will conduct interviews with second-year law students at Baylor University School of Law, Southern Methodist University School of Law, Sunbelt Minority Job Fair in Dallas, Texas Tech University School of Law, Texas A&M University School of Law, The University of Oklahoma School of Law, The University of Texas School of Law, Texas Tech University School of Law, and the University of Houston Law Center. If your school is not listed above or you are unable to attend any of the scheduled interview sessions but are interested in applying for our 2026 Summer Associate Program, please send your resume and law school transcript with your 1L year grades to Clark Rucker, Recruiting Partner, 201 Main Street, Suite 2500, Fort Worth, Texas, 76102 or email recruiting@kellyhart.com before July 1, 2025.