Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams rich in diversity. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

The BMS Law Department Summer Internship program offers law students valuable career development opportunities by providing client- and customer-focused assignments under the supervision of members of our Law Department.  Interns will work with a specific group within the Department and will be matched with mentors who can provide ongoing guidance on professional development throughout their academic and professional careers.

In addition to gaining in-house experience, our program provides learning opportunities with law firms, and in different areas of the law relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.  Past activities have included direct exposure with clients and outside counsel, networking opportunities, a reception with alumni of the BMS Law Department internship program, seminars conducted by senior management, career development programs, tours of our manufacturing facilities, and an opportunity to present to our General Counsel and her senior leadership team.  Internship positions are based primarily at our offices in Central New Jersey but may support multiple geographies.  Interns are expected to be present in the office at a minimum of three (3) days per week and should consult with their mentor(s) to ensure alignment on specific days when others will be in the office.

The Law Department Summer Internship program is paid, but not expected to lead to an offer of full-time employment. Interns will be compensated for a full-time work week in the amount of $30 per hour.  

The program will run from May 19, 2025 until Friday, July 25, 2025.

Qualifications & Experience

The Law Department Summer Internship program is seeking qualified law students of diverse backgrounds and/or with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, who are interested in obtaining a unique experience within a world-class corporate law department.

Students should have excellent academic credentials and communication skills. Applicants should also possess outstanding interpersonal skills, due to the high level of contact with clients and leaders across the organization.  

A biology or chemistry background is strongly preferred for any candidates interested in Patent Law.  

How to Apply

Students interested in applying must apply via the Bristol Myers Squibb Workday posting by January 10, 2025.

Applicants must attach a single PDF document with the applicant’s name as the title, to their Workday application. The combined PDF must include the below items in the following order:

A current resume (including current law school GPA, if available); and

A cover letter containing the following information:

Name of Law School and Expected Graduation Year

A list of the student’s top 3 areas of interest.  Please choose 3 of the focus areas listed below.

A statement about why the student is an excellent candidate for the program and specifically how the student would contribute to the program.

A statement of how the student’s life experiences have informed their views on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Areas of Focus and Associated Responsibilities:

Transactions

Drafting, revising, structuring and counseling on routine and moderate complexity transactional matters (including mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, site/product divestitures, licenses, collaborations, digital health, procurement, real estate, IT and other transactions); and assisting with legal due diligence and signing/closing logistics.

Partner with business clients to ensure strategic alignment in all transactions, escalating matters when appropriate and coordinate with external advisors as necessary.

Identify and resolve legal issues with enterprise-wide and business mindset; and identify and help resolve business issues.

Provide legal research, analysis and/or advice, including on rights and obligations under executed agreements

Assist with resolution of disputes under executed agreements.

Attending counseling sessions with clients and negotiations with opposing counsel. 

Developing contract templates and negotiation playbooks.

Developing training programs for contracting teams. 

Regulatory Law, Worldwide Therapeutic Areas, Commercialization and Development

Develop an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the commercialization and development of pharmaceutical products.  

Provide solutions-oriented legal and regulatory advice to business teams regarding initiatives to advance the development and marketing of Bristol Myers Squibb products, including the appropriate development and use of promotional and non-promotional materials.

Compliance & Ethics

Develop an understanding of how the Compliance & Ethics team empowers BMS to lead with integrity and protect the interests of the company and its patients.  

Gain exposure to the various Compliance & Ethics Centers of Expertise (including Integrity Line & Investigations; Risk, Operations, & Intelligence; Global Policy, Education, & Culture; Global Market Compliance; and Data Privacy). 

Assist with data analytics, third-party due diligence, internal investigations, and/or data privacy projects to drive compliance with healthcare laws and regulations globally (e.g., FCPA, anti-kickback, PhRMA code, etc.).

Participate in global compliance projects with opportunities to learn about our global Compliance & Ethics Program and engage with compliance colleagues from around the world.

Corporate Governance/Securities

Develop an understanding of U.S. Securities laws and general corporate governance principles.

Review and update public securities disclosures, including proxy statement for annual shareholder meeting.

Research and benchmark evolving trends and updates in corporate governance.

Participate in quarterly disclosure process, including attending disclosure committee meetings and reviewing and editing quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

Drug Development Law

Develop an understanding of laws and regulations governing product development, including early stage research and late-stage clinical trials.

Participate in client meetings with key leaders in Research & Development.

Prepare written work product and deliver presentations regarding developments in laws governing pharmaceutical product development.

Participate in meetings and projects in Manufacturing & Environmental Law.

Employment Law

Develop knowledge of employment laws.

Research questions of law.

Participate in client meetings.

Help to develop policies or best practices.

Provide input on confidential employee investigations.

Attend mediations, depositions, and hearings for any ongoing employment litigation or disputes.

Litigation

Attend witness meetings and court proceedings.

Research issues and prepare memoranda relating to litigation, including antitrust litigation, products liability, securities litigation, contract disputes, and patent litigation.

Participate in strategy calls and meetings regarding litigation and government investigations.

Patent Law

Assist in the preparation of USPTO and ex-US patent office responses.

Participate in counseling sessions with clients.

Research areas of Patent Law.

Develop knowledge of US and ex-US Patent Law.

Medical, Commercialization & Digital Capabilities

Assist with legal support of global medical affairs (evidence generation, scientific communications, and publications) and commercial initiatives.

Participate in counseling sessions with client.

Research developing risks and legal issues surrounding data governance and artificial intelligence (AI).

Support development and launching of digital health products and initiatives.

Why You Should Apply

Around the world, we are passionate about making an impact on the lives of patients with serious diseases. Empowered to apply our individual talents and diverse perspectives in an inclusive culture, our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

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If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in an inclusive culture, promoting diversity in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has a diverse occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

BMS cares about your well-being and the well-being of our staff, customers, patients, and communities. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that all employees be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and keep up to date with Covid-19 boosters.

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.